Lack of representation of non-white people w/ autism

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The media seems to potray Autism and it's many forms as white humans. You never really see black's, indians, asians, and other ethnicity's autism related wise.

Political Correctness. Minorities shall not be shown as defective, lesser beings, so only someone in IT can be a geeky as a white boy.

So besides not being a market demographic, the roles open are limited by a forced making everyone look good.

In America we have gotten around the problem of race. We have Grand old Opry, where white people can go full Country, The Black Entertainment Network that showcases the best of Black Culture, and MTV which is loaded with white girls behaving badly and Blacks living the Thug Life.

As long as it is self inflicted, it is cool with everyone.

Everyone has questions they will not ask, like, Why do white people smell like wet dogs?

Lack of representation of non-white people w/ autism

Speaking in terms of (Black Americans), there are a host of high profile celebrities who have Autistic children. These media stars have stepped forward to bring Autism awareness to the world.

http://www.loop21.com/politics/autism-black-community

http://articles.nydailynews.com/2012-04 ... thday-sons

In regards to "the average " person, there are a few stories floating around that run the media gamut(from success in neuro-diversity to criminal tragedies).

I believe sheer numbers is a main reason for lack of minority representation. Black Americans represent 13. 1% of the population (Black males 17,745,363/ Black females 23,377,542) in a total population that is 313,847,465 in which 79.96% are White. Autism is primarily detected in males with an Autistic population reportedly around 1% and no reason to suggest it is spread unevenly throughout ethnic communities.( i question this but that's another topic)

This translates into low visibility. The result: Autism is seen as a condition primarily affecting Whites.

TheSunAlsoRises

*edited for clarity.

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Also, there are cultural differences in the recognition and treatment of Autistics around the world(inclusive of cultures within America).

The culture could have a medical profession that views Autistics as mental patients to be psycho-analyzed and shocked into 'normalcy'.

The culture could view Autism as a curse and a family shame to be hidden away from society.

The society in which Autistics live could be extremely isolated with little resources.

When you start looking at huge populations around the world involving different customs, traditions, values, mores, and availability of limited resources to name a few factors; you begin to see other dynamics outside of racism and intentional neglect effecting media representation of Autistic minorities.

TheSunAlsoRises

What?
Autistics aren't all pale males?

The numbers from the latest CDC study, that provided the overall 1 in "88" statistic, per demographic of ethnicity are linked and quoted below.

The prevalence statistics in states like North Carolina, Georgia, and urban areas in New Jersey, reflect a higher or close to equal prevalence rate among African Americans as compared to Whites.

And in Florida the Hispanic rate of prevalence are almost double that of African Americans or Whites, in Dade country, where data collection occurred, in this county that has an overall high demographic of Hispanics.

In other states like Utah where the demographic of African Americans is low overall, as in other western states, one finds lower prevalence numbers of African Americans with ASD's.

But, overall, since the last CDC study was done the highest increases of prevalence among ethnic groups was among Hispanics and African Americans.

The overall rate of ASD's measured across the country is similar per the numbers below for African Americans and Whites. But as "Sun Also Rises" indicates a 13% demographic is going to result in the general observance of proportionately less African Americans diagnosed overall, while the CDC reports the actual prevalence rates are close to the same. And potentially higher if factors of advantage in diagnosis studied in the second link and quoted article were afforded to African Americans across the full demographic, nation wide.

http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/documents/ADDM-2012-Community-Report.pdf

Is there anyone from the UK that can offer their opinion?

It's depend from which media were you see, and where do you live guy

-If you live in USA,UK, or Canada and you actually watch CNN, BBC, or FoxNews you'll always found that 99% Auties are white dude
-If you live in China and you actually watch Chinadaily, ChinxMedia you'll always found that 99% Auties are Chinese
-If you live in India and you actually watch Bollywood,Amitabachan,Kuchkuchhotahai,whatever then you'll always found that 99% Auties in the media are Indians as well as MynameisKhan

I think the media in general kind of sucks so I don't really trust them to accurately portray anything.

It seems pretty clear that anyone of any ethnic background might be affected by autism.

That said I think it's diagnosed much more in white communities for a number of reasons. For the most part, the prosperous "First World"--Western Europe, Australia, Canada, North America, etc--is predominantly white, and white people are primarily the holders of institutional power and traditional affluence and privilege. So for example, because of history, black people in America have a greater likelihood of being in a more bleak socio-enomic situation than their white fellow-citizens, and as a broad generalization don't have the same access to these kinds of diagnostic services that whites more likely would.

However all things the same, there is nothing to say autism equally effects all populations. This is not a bigoted statement--genetic things commonly impact particular communities more than others. It would actually be interesting to learn statistics about this. I think the problem is, in the current state of disparity, such statistics are difficult to ascertain. It's known that autism has a genetic component to it, and some people think that there simply may be a much greater prevalence for it among populations of European origins. I find this to be an interesting idea. Of course I have no basis for saying it's true or false. If anyone sees new studies on this sort of thing, please post them.

Another though, it might also be a factor that there seems to be in some quarters a reaction among a black minority that has been traditionally oppressed to want to separate themselves culturally and cling to an identity that they see as threatened and potentially compromised by the white majority. "Acting white", or identifying with things considered stereotypically white concerns, priorities, behaviors can be scorned. Gay people experience this within the black community. Even being gay can be seen as a "white thing". Again this is not a rule but a simple factor. For this sort of reason, it is not unreasonable that a diagnosis of a "mental issue" in some quarters of the black community could be taken as a "white" and a sign of "weakness" associated with alien/historically oppressive white cultural-based ideas, that they might not be keen to want to accept as being "of their own community".

As someone who is black and is a Aspie, the media does a TERRIBLE job promoting the fact that autism is in other ethic groups other than whites.

My family has no clue what AS even is

I would be nice if they mixed it up to show that any ethic group can be autistic.