Advancing Health Equity for Latinx Autistic Adults in the United States through an Intersectionality Lens

The health of autistic adults has become increasingly researched, but subgroups with intersectional identities like Latinx autistic adults remain largely understudied. In this article authors examine the health disparities U.S. Latinx autistic adults may experience throughout their lifespan and apply a combined theoretical framework-the ecological systems theory, critical race theory (CRT), and intersectionality-to a study of Latinx autistic young adults. CRT conceptualizes how race, along with the intersectional identity of disability, interact in the socioecological systems of the United States. Together these theories guide the examination of the dynamic interactions impacting the health of Latinx autistic individuals. The proposed integrated theoretical framework supports practitioners' abilities to be culturally humble and responsive to Latinx autistic adults' health experiences. Practitioners engaging with Latinx autistic communities, and specifically social work researchers, practitioners, and educators, can gain awareness of how individuals' social context and positionality contribute to people's experiences of health, discrimination, and wellness in their day-to-day lives. This article provides practical examples and recommendations for implementation. Although this article centers on the intersections of Latinx racial identity and autism disability, the proposed theoretical framework can be useful in identifying and addressing health disparities among other marginalized communities.