This double discrimination was revealed by a National Autistic Societyreport Missing out? Autism, Education and Ethnicity: The reality forfamilies today, which found lower levels of satisfaction with theirchild's academic progress among parents of Black and ethnic minoritychildren.
The report revealed Black and ethnic minority families might not beaware of the rights and resources available. It recommends that localauthorities and primary care trusts ensure autism services areaccessible to families from all ethnic backgrounds.
Prithvi Perepa, Black and minority ethnic development officer for thesociety, said: "It is the right of all children in the UK to access afull education. We must ensure that children from Black and ethnicminority communities do not lose out. All children must be able toaccess appropriate support and a range of educational provision to meettheir individual needs."
The report said teachers should receive cultural awareness training aswell as training in autism in order to meet the needs of diversecommunities.
Only 31 per cent of Black and ethnic minority families thought teachershad received the training necessary to meet the special needs ofchildren with autism, at least 10 per cent lower than their WhiteBritish counterparts.
- www.nas.org.uk.
