Disparities in Early Intervention Program Participation by Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder in a US...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Developmental Pediatrics
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Early interventions significantly improve outcomes for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
• The Early Intervention Program (EIP) is a legally mandated service system in the US for young children with developmental delays or disabilities.
• The utilization of EIP services by children diagnosed with ASD remains largely unquantified.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the utilization of Early Intervention Program (EIP) services among children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) between 2006 and 2016.
• To identify and describe factors associated with EIP participation in this population.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study utilizing repeated data from the New Jersey Autism Study (NJAS) surveillance from 2006 to 2016.
• Included 4050 children aged 8 years with ASD, assessing demographic, ecological, and clinical factors, alongside temporal patterns.
• Standard and multilevel logistic regression models were employed to analyze EIP participation.

Main Results:

• Nearly half (46.6%) of children aged 8 with ASD received EIP services between 2006 and 2016, with increased participation over time.
• Significant disparities were observed: non-Hispanic Black children had lower odds of EIP participation compared to non-Hispanic White children (AOR=0.67).
• Children in affluent areas had higher odds of EIP service receipt (AOR=1.71), and those born in 2008 had higher odds than those born in 1998 (AOR=2.64).

Conclusions:

• While EIP participation for children with ASD has increased, substantial socioeconomic and racial/ethnic disparities persist.
• These findings underscore the need for universal ASD screening and targeted strategies to ensure equitable access to early intervention services.
• Addressing these disparities is critical for improving long-term outcomes for all children with ASD.