Barriers for Neurodivergent Leaders: What You Need to Know.

Multiple studies have highlighted the challenges and disparities faced by Neurodivergent women, People of Color, and LGBTQ+ individuals in accessing appropriate services and support, both in childhood and adulthood. Here is a fact sheet detailing some of these unique disparities and challenges.

Black and Latino/a/é Neurodivergent People

1. A recent study found that the average age of diagnosis for Black children was over five years and over three years after parents' first concerns about their child's development. This is consistent with research that has found delay in diagnosis to be more pronounced in children of color. (Journal of Pediatrics)

2. In a study of over 260,000 children younger than eight years of age, up to one-fourth of children were undiagnosed, with most of these children being Black or Latinx. (National Institute for Health)

3. A study found that White children were 19% and 65% more likely to receive a diagnosis of ASD than Black and Latinx children, respectively. (National Institute for Health)

LGBTQ+ Neurodivergent People

1. Autistic females also present with greater gender and sexuality diversity compared to non-autistic females, and many report conflicts between autism and the traditional feminine identity (National Library of Medicine)

2. LGBTQ+ individuals with ADHD are less likely to receive adequate treatment and support due to stigma and discrimination within the healthcare system. (Mental Health Services Administration)

3. Parents of LGBTQ+ youth with ASD reported experiencing more challenges in accessing appropriate services and support compared to parents of non-LGBTQ+ youth. (National Library of Medicine)

Neurodivergent Girls and Women

1. Girls are underdiagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) due to biases in diagnostic tools designed based on male behavior patterns. (National Institute of Health)

2. Recent studies on the mental health trajectories for autistic women found that potentially undiagnosed women were more likely to receive a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder (BPD) and that autistic women and female-presenting people with a diagnosis only received one after a series of mental health misdiagnoses, which was not the case for autistic men. (Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders)

3. Girls and women are diagnosed with ADHD four times less than boys and men, in large part due to diagnostic gender bias. (BMC Psychiatry)

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