Practical Resources for Talking to Children with Autism about Systemic Racism
Use picture cards and role-play at home to teach kids with autism to notice and challenge racism.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Melendez and colleagues wrote a how-to guide for parents. They show ways to explain racism to kids with autism.
The paper uses pictures, simple stories, and role-play. No kids were tested. The team just shared tools they have used.
What they found
The guide gives step-by-step scripts. One script shows two dolls getting different treats. The child is asked which is fair.
Another script has the child practice what to say if someone is mean because of skin color. The steps are short and clear.
How this fits with other research
Hugh-Pennie et al. (2022) take the same idea to the whole school. They show how teachers can weave anti-bias moves into daily ABA lessons. The home guide and the school plan fit like puzzle pieces.
Patton et al. (2020) found Mexican-heritage families use only 26 % of daily moments for teaching. Melendez answers that gap: turn bath time or dinner time into quick race-talk moments. No extra clinic visit needed.
McGonigle et al. (2014) warn that Asian families cope better when we give them concrete skills, not just happy thoughts. Melendez agrees: give parents a script they can act out tonight, not a lecture on diversity.
Why it matters
You can hand this two-page guide to parents today. Tell them to pick one picture story and act it out after school. Track how the child labels fair vs. unfair. In a week you will have real data on whether the child can spot bias and speak up.
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Join Free →Print the doll script, give it to one family, and ask them to send you a 30-second video of the role-play before next session.
02At a glance
03Original abstract
As part of the child-rearing process, situations that invite difficult conversations will inevitably arise. Oftentimes, there are no guidelines or structure for how to discuss topics such as sex education, systemic racism, bullying, grieving, and gun violence. Accordingly, adults may feel at a loss for how to address difficult topics and may even avoid difficult conversations completely. When adults choose to have these conversations, they may imitate the conversations their caregivers had with them, and therefore further the cycle of systemic racism, often unknowingly and unintentionally. Racial injustice has been a core part of the American experience since the founding of the republic; hence, conversations about systemic racism are long overdue. The need has significantly increased, given the current socio-political climate. Social justice may be a sensitive topic for some, but it is a needed conversation for all, including children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Currently available curricula and teaching manuals in the Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) literature include little or no resources for caregivers on how to address systemic racism with their children on the spectrum. Children with ASD should be educated about how they, and their families, can combat systemic racism in their everyday lives. The present paper addresses this gap in available treatment resources by offering practical suggestions and guidelines for how adults can address the topic of systemic racism with children on the autism spectrum to educate them and prepare them to contribute to a more equitable and just future.
Behavior Analysis in Practice, 2021 · doi:10.1007/s40617-020-00500-4