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Upcoming Events
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Below is our community calendar. If you have an event or training you would like to add, see “Submit an event” to fill out the form and submit it for review.
Our Growing Database of State, National, and Global Activities and Resources for Individuals & Self-Advocates:
- Learning Something New tab: Explore these activities and events to learn something new
- Have Some Fun tab: Here, you can find resources and activities that are fun to do both indoors and outdoors!
- Get Involved in Your Community tab: There are lots of opportunities to get engaged in your community – volunteering, boards, etc.
- Internships & Apprenticeships: Want to get some job skills, explore internships and apprenticeships below
For more opportunities and resources for individuals with ASD & self-advocates, go to handsinautism.iupui.edu/tools-resources/individuals-with-asd/
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Information and events in the calendar have been added by the community, for the community and will be reviewed by but not endorsed by the IIACC or HANDS in Autism®.
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Cultural and Diversity Considerations
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On this page, you can explore the following topics (click on the topic of interest):
- What is Cultural Competence?
- Why is Cultural Competence Important?
- Where to Start?
- What is Cultural Responsiveness?
- Additional Resources
While there are no differences in ASD symptoms across different countries or ethnic groups, there are differences in the overall identification, particularly the cases of misdiagnosis or lack of diagnosis in minorities.
What is Cultural Competence?
Cultural competence focuses on understanding and appropriate response to the unique combination of cultural, linguistic and individual diversity that the professional and client/patient/family bring to interactions.
The terms culture and linguistics refer to patterns of human behavior, including language, thoughts, communications, actions, customs, beliefs, values, and institutions of racial, ethnic, religious, or other groups (e.g., gender identity/gender expression, age, national origin, sexual orientation, disability) (ASHA, 2017).
Why is Cultural Competence Important?
Differences do not imply deficiencies or disorders. Culture and language may influence behaviors and attitudes of individuals seeking care. In turn, delivery of services is influenced by the values and experiences of providers. Culturally competent care means providing service that is respectful of, and responsive to, an individual’s values, preferences, and language. Care should not vary in quality based on ethnicity, age, socioeconomic status, or other factors.
Federal and state regulations and programs, such as Medicaid, Medicare, and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), require that providers render culturally and linguistically appropriate services. These programs are in accordance with broader legislation such as Title VI, Executive Order 13166, and National Standards on Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS).
Where to Start?
Massachusetts Act Early created a skills-based training curriculum, Considering Culture in Autism Screening, an interactive, case-based training about culturally competent screening, evaluation, and referral to intervention services for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
Several organizations have also developed an implementation guides to help providers consider and implement policies that focus on cultural competence. Here are some of them:
- Best Practice Highlights for Treating Diverse Patient Populations by the American Psychiatric Association
- National Center for Cultural Competence: Getting Started and Moving on
- A Physician’s Practical Guide to Culturally Competent Care
- Indiana Department of Education: School Climate and Cultural Awareness
- Tip Sheet: Engaging People with Disabilities in Evidence-Based Programs
What is Cultural Responsiveness?
Cultural responsive teaching or instruction refers to a “pedagogy that empowers students intellectually, socially, emotionally, and politically by using cultural referents to impart knowledge, skills, and attitudes” (Ladson-Billings, 1994, p. 382). To be culturally responsive, teachers make content and curricula accessible to students in a way that students can relate to and understand, including embedding aspects of students’ daily lives into the curriculum. These could be language, prior knowledge, and interests. (ASCD, 2011).
[slideshare id=32331874&doc=culturalcompetency-140314184542-phpapp02]Additional Resources
National and Nationwide Resources:
- National Center for Cultural Competence
- National Latino Health Association
- National Center for Learning Disabilities: Significant Disproportionality In Special Education Report (2020)
- Trans LifeLine
- Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) Fast Facts:
- National Institute of Health: Cultural respect
- Department of Health and Human Services: Think Cultural Health
- The Arc: Promoting Cultural Competence
State Resources:
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Services, Groups, & Networks
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TIPS: Developing Partnerships with the Disability Community
TIP: Tip Sheet: Engaging People with Disabilities in Evidence-Based Programs
Search for Services and Groups in Your Area:
- About Special Kids (ASK): Directory
- Autism Resource Network of Indiana
- Indiana Disability Resource FINDER
- Indiana Resource Center for Autism
National and Local Resources
- Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD)
- Building Healthy Inclusive Communities through the National Center on Health, Physical Activity and Disability (NCHPAD)
Advocacy
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What is Self-Advocacy?
Self-advocacy is a form of advocacy in which individuals are empowered and informed to represent themselves in a number of settings.
Self-Advocacy is learning how to speak up for yourself, making your own decisions about your own life, learning how to get information so that you can understand things that are of interest to you, finding out who will support you in your journey, knowing your rights and responsibilities, problem solving, listening and learning, reaching out to others when you need help and friendship, and learning about self-determination (Wrightslaw.com).
- Learn About Self-Advocacy: Speaking Up
- Stories from Self-Advocates on Variety of Topics (Self-Advocacy Online)
- Wrightslaw
- Youth in Action! Becoming a Stronger Self-Advocate
- Self-Advocacy Guides (Arizona Center for Disability Law)
- Kids as Self-Advocates
- The Youthhood
- Self-Advocates Becoming Empowered
- ME! Lessons for Teaching Self-Awareness & Self-Advocacy:
- On Disability Disclosure (National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability)
- Best Practices in Self-Advocacy Skill Building (Center for Parent Information & Resources)
What Do I Need to Remember:
- Participate actively in the process, whether it is your IEP or transition, school or work or community.
- Express clearly what your needs are
- Set goals that you can realistically achieve
- Find the information you need to make choices
- Look for options or resources
- Remember to bring an advocate, friend, or family member to a meeting to help and support you, if you prefer
- Keep a folder of all communication.
- Take notes at meetings or during calls
10 Steps to Effective Self-Advocacy:
- Self-Advocacy (Autism Speaks)
- Action Model for Self-Determination
- 10 Steps to Effective Self-Advocacy (Disability Rights, Florida)
Teaching Self-Advocacy Skills to Your Child or Student:
Additional Resources
- Autistic Self-Advocacy Network (ASAN)
- About Special Kids (ASK): Parent Liaisons
- Answers for Autism
- Arc of Indiana
- Easter Seals Crossroads
- Hoosier Alliance for Neurodiversity
- Insurance Advocacy Resource Center
- Indiana Institute on Disability and Community
- Indiana Resource Center for Autism
- Public Policy Advocacy
- Self-Advocates of Indiana
- Autism Society of Indiana
- Autism Ally Program
- Autism Resource Network of Indiana (ARNI)
- Early Learning Indiana’s Partnerships for Early Learners: Training Central
- Family Voices Indiana: Advocacy and Partnerships
- Indiana Disability Rights
- IN*SOURCE
- Indiana Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health
- Indiana’s Governor’s Council for People with Disabilities
- Indiana Statewide Independent Living Council
- MAAP Services
- Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD)
- Building Healthy Inclusive Communities through the National Center on Health, Physical Activity and Disability (NCHPAD)
- Autistic Self-Advocacy Network
- Building Bridges: Interacting with Adults Who Have Developmental Disabilities (Cleveland Clinic)