Raising Autism Awareness & Expanding Access to Care

One in 31 children in the U.S. is diagnosed on the autism spectrum with California having one of the highest rates in the U.S., with one in 19 children diagnosed. By the end of 2023, the statewide autism caseload hit an all-time high, representing a 156% increase over the past 10 years, according to the most recent annual report by the California Department of Developmental Services.

And while autism touches families across all races, cultures and demographics, children from low-income households and minority groups generally have less access to services—and early diagnosis, ideally by age two, is key. 

Research shows that when children receive delayed intervention, they face greater long-term challenges in language development, social skills and cognitive growth.

Easterseals Southern California (ESSC) believes that communities are strengthened when we all thrive. By removing barriers to early autism diagnosis and care, ESSC’s Autism Therapy Services, through it’s innovative programs addressing disparity in underserved communities, is bringing culturally responsive support, faster evaluations (doctor’s referral not required) and critical resources to families who have too often been left behind.

By addressing the root causes of disparity, ESSC is helping to ensure that every child has the opportunity to reach their full potential.

A Commitment to Equity

As one of the nation’s largest autism service providers—supporting more than 29,000 individuals with autism and other disabilities throughout SoCal—ESSC launched the Autism Services Disparity Project In mid-2021, during the height of the pandemic.

Over the past five years this initiative—designed to reduce diagnostic- and service-access inequities in African-American and Latino communities—and has helped connect thousands of people in under-served communities to health services and social care resources.

“Traditionally people from communities of color and low-income households are less likely to have access to services or receive the same amount and quality of healthcare and as other Americans,” said Khrystle Lotfizadeh, M.A., BCBA, Clinical Director, Autism Services. “Easterseals’ work focuses on how we can reduce or eliminate the barriers that these groups are facing.”

“It’s very uplifting to represent Easterseals at community events like resource fairs,” added Inigo Gerardo Pantanosas, Community Engagement Coordinator, Autism Services. “We meet parents in the community at events like resource fairs who just don’t know where to start. We can answer their questions and the face-to-face interaction is important to relieve their anxiety. For those already in our services or to whom we have provided help, they share how thankful they are.”

One Mom’s Story

“I didn’t know where to start to be honest,” said Livia Rivero, whose son, Jaxon, was experiencing significant speech delays. It can be very intimidating.  And finding resources can be challenging.

“It’s also about breaking the stigma. I have an older family member who was against getting help. She said, ‘He’ll be fine. He’s just a little delayed.  He’ll grow into it.’  It might be a generational thing and a cultural thing,” said Livia whose relatives are Filipino.

Evaluated at the age of two-and-a-half, Jaxon had a vocabulary of “barely 20 words.” A child typically has a vocabulary of about 500 words at that age. 

“I could count how many words he had on my fingers,” she recalls. “He couldn’t put more than two words together.  No sentences or phrases.  Now he’s gone from single words to using three- to five-word phrases. 

“Having Easterseals and Khrystle advocate for my son was a saving grace. No judgement. Had I not had that conversation, maybe we wouldn’t have gone anywhere.  Maybe I would have taken my mother-in-law’s word for it. Or, at the very least, getting Jaxon the help he needed would have been really delayed—and early intervention is important.”

Understanding the Disparities

Limited Access to Care

Many families face barriers that delay diagnosis and prevent early intervention, including:

• Limited healthcare access
• Lack of information about autism services
• Stigma and discrimination
• Transportation challenges
• Financial instability

Socio-Cultural Barriers

Language differences, cultural perceptions of autism and limited trust in healthcare systems can hinder accurate diagnosis. These factors often result in underdiagnosis or misdiagnosis in racially and ethnically diverse communities.

Gaps in Schools & Clinics

In educational settings, minority children are less likely to receive timely assessments and formal diagnoses, even when they meet diagnostic criteria. Without a diagnosis, families cannot access critical services and resources.

What ESSC is Doing to Change the System

The Autism Services Disparity Project takes action on multiple fronts.

Removing Practical Barriers

ESSC connects families with social services that address urgent needs such as:

• Mental/behavioral support
• Housing & shelter
• Financial assistance
• Employment services
• Transportation services
• Childcare/respite services
• Emergency food assistance
• Social enrichment
• Language and communication support

Raising Community Awareness Through Free Events

• Resource Fairs, which:
  • Answer questions about autism
  • Provide introductions to resources
  • Inform about services
• Affinity group talks, such as:
  • Navigating IEPs
  • Stress management
  • Regional Center benefits
  • Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)
• Training sessions, including:
  • Intro to ESSC Services
  • Disability 101
  • Neurodiversity & Inclusive Practices
  • Honoring Neurodiversity in the Workplace
  • Accessibility
  • Disability Justice Workshop
  • Red & Green Flags of Belonging
• Social events:
  • Mixers for neurodiverse teens & young adults
  • Caregiver get togethers, which provide childcare to offer respite

Building Cultural Understanding

The program prioritizes:

• Recruiting and training diverse clinical staff
• Providing multilingual services
• Delivering culturally competent care
• Strengthening trust within underserved communities, because representation and understanding matter 

Expanding Diagnostic Access

To reduce long waitlists and provide faster answers, ESSC has five diagnostic centers—where you can receive a diagnostic assessment without a doctor’s referral—offering multilingual evaluations and extended hours to accommodate working families:

• Irvine 
• Ontario 
• Pasadena  
• Torrance — Opening Fall 2026
• Whittier

For more information:

1-855-ESSC-411 (1-855-377-2411)

customersuccess@essc.org

“That’s the thing I love most,” Gerardo Pantanosas summed up about the program. “Our outreach is so vast—from Bakersfield to San Diego.  There are so many communities to visit and people to get to know.  We care beyond just providing services.  We are building trust, creating connections and making sure that every family knows they are seen, supported and not alone. Those connections with families and kids push me to do more.”