As a mother of two African American boys, the youngest with ASD, I am extremely aware of the issues they face every day as young men of color. What is even more difficult is wondering how my son, who is dealing with ASD, will be viewed when he is on his own one day without the protection of his family.

In our world today, there seems to be even more ugly racial injustice rearing its head across the globe and especially in the United States.  When it comes to Autism there are so many issues that parents and children have to deal with daily, but it becomes a double edged sword when race comes into the picture as well.

How can parents feel safe for their children of color dealing with ASD or any disability, especially when they are fighting both battles?  As a global society, we have to do better.  Education and understanding of both race and Autism are extremely important, not only for parents that deal with the disorder but for our community as a whole. No one can do that better than parents, caregivers and practitioners that deal with ASD on a daily basis. That is why I feel it is essential that parents get as much information and resources that are available for our kids of all races and ethnicities. Many times, families of color are not exposed to the resources that are needed and children can fall through the cracks without having the chance to succeed and live a fruitful life. This is unfair and more materials and opportunities must be made available for our communities.

When I first started on this journey, it was a hard road for me trying to navigate this maze of ASD. Fortunately, I loved research and I knew it was imperative that I find out everything about Autism.  In an earlier blog, I stated that I even wrote my MFA thesis script on the subject. As I learned more about helping my son, I knew it was one of my missions to pay it forward. It was crucial for me to use my knowledge to help educate others about children on the spectrum, especially from an African American mother’s perspective. I wanted to inform other parents as well, especially those who had no idea what was out there for their children.

As a society that has dealt with so much racial prejudice, it is imperative that all of us come together to eradicate these forms of injustices. No one should have to deal with the pain of racism or inequality including children of color with special needs.  They are our future. We have to break down these barriers together, so that our kids can be a part of a world that thrives.