Opinion: In many South Asian American families, a child’s autism diagnosis is a secret

Article excerpt

Autism diagnoses in the U.S. have reached 1 in 31 children, a 16% jump since 2020, yet South Asian American families remain largely absent from these statistics. In many South Asian households, an autism diagnosis stays hidden, a secret kept behind closed doors due to cultural stigma. The gap reveals how prevalence numbers mask disparities: health systems, pediatricians, and schools planning around aggregate data may miss entire communities where underdiagnosis and secrecy prevail. The piece examines why cultural attitudes toward disability in South Asian communities create barriers to diagnosis, treatment, and support, even as nationwide awareness grows.