Differences in the Prevalence of Autism among Black, Hispanic, and White Students

While many researchers have studied the etiology of autism, possible racial/ethnic differences in prevalence of the autism diagnosis have received much less attention. Using the Texas Education Agency Public Education Information Management System (PEIMS) data set for 2006, we examined the prevalence of an educational diagnosis of autism among Black, White, and Hispanic students. The percentage of all Texas children served under the autism label in 2006 was 0.43% (n = 19, 813). White and Black children were more likely than Hispanic children to receive an autism educational diagnosis (0.62%, 0.44%, and 0.27% respectively). The percentage of students diagnosed with autism varied by geographic area and income level, as well. Possible reasons for the disparity in prevalence of autism diagnoses are discussed.