Policy Power Lunch Rethinking Research Series: Autism in Immigrant Communities – Bridging Gaps in Research and Policy.

We aim to spotlight the unique needs and life experiences of autistic people from immigrant families in the United States. We hope to empower researchers, stakeholders, policy experts, and advocates to work towards real-world policy and research changes.  

In several countries, autistic people face immigration bans due to potentially high support costs. For those who immigrate, accessing care for autism diagnosis is often delayed, despite studies indicating a higher likelihood of autism in children of immigrants. In particular, children of Black immigrants, Central or South American immigrants, Filipino immigrants, and Vietnamese immigrants are more likely to be diagnosed with autism and co-occurring intellectual disabilities. Even less is known about the identification of autistic immigrants with lower support needs. 

As these children transition into adulthood, immigrant families report a lack of information and support. Few U.S. studies have examined the transition experiences of non-native autistic youth and their families. Given that one in four children in the U.S. has immigrant parents, this is a critical population for services and policy focus. Join us for an insightful session and proactive dialogue addressing these pressing issues. 

In this webinar we will:  

• Discuss the unique needs and experiences of immigrant autistic people and their families. 
• Discuss what policymakers and people who are making decisions about services should know about this community. 
• Learn what culturally responsive polices and research can look like to support immigrant communities. 
• Learn how current politics, policy, and current events impact immigrant autistic people and their families.   
• Learn what resources are currently available to meet families’ needs  
• Discuss what services and supports should be available to meet the needs of immigrant communities. 

Register here

Featured Panelists: 

Sarorng Sorn

Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services  

Sarorng (Rorng) Sorn is the Director of Immigrant/Refugee Affairs and Language Access Services for the City of Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services (DBHIDS). Her pronouns are she/her/hers. In her role, Rorng works to develop strategies and policies to increase access to behavioral health and intellectual disability services for immigrant/refugee and special population communities. Rorng settled in Philadelphia as a refugee from Cambodia in 1987. She has over 30 years of combined experience in public, private, and nonprofit sectors working to address the challenges of refugee and immigrant communities in Philadelphia and the U.S. Through her dedication to serving marginalized communities, she has received multiple awards, including the Special Achievement Award for Dedicated Service in Support of Human Rights of the U.S. Department of Justice Community Relations Service, 6ABC’s Outstanding Community Service Award, an honorary degree, Doctor of Humane Letters, from Gwynedd Mercy University in 2019, and the Government winner of the Health and Wellness Achievement Award for the 2023 Philadelphia Welcoming Awards. Sarorng received a master’s degree in Nonprofit/NGO Leadership from the University of Pennsylvania in 2008. She loves traveling, kayaking, hiking, ziplining, camping, and spending quality time with family and friends in her spare time.

Khylil Robinson

Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services 

Khylil Robinson has been involved in autism advocacy since 2014, starting with a presentation at the Community College of Philadelphia. He contributed to the early development of the Philadelphia Autism Project and has held roles such as #ASDNext Blogger, Family Motivator/Self Advocate at SpectrumSuccess911, and Youth MOVE Youth Advocate. Khylil is a regular panelist for the Annual Autism Project and has conducted over 60 educational Zoom meetings. He received the Grapevine Award in January 2022 and the Jordan A. Smith award in December 2022. As a Community Autism Peer Specialist, he continues to advocate for the autism community.

Karina Castillo

Corazones Unidos para el Autismo 

Karina Castillo is the executive director for Corazones Unidos Para El Autismo, a nonprofit focused on bridging the gap between several communities including Latinos, autism, LGBTQ+ and more. She has been committed to growing her nonprofit for more than 10 years and has helped countless families and caregivers in the community. She worked aside her husband helping families via small support groups understand the challenges of raising children in the spectrum while also celebrating the small milestones that are accomplished every day. She has walked along side parents and caregivers by making sure they can get access to care and also helping them understand their rights. Because of her experience with her own family, she has been able to successfully publish 2 books on stories from caregivers and advocates. As a parent who migrated from Ecuador, she understands the challenges that most families face when transitioning to a new country.

Young Seh Bae

CIDA 

Dr. Young Seh Bae is the visionary founder and Executive Director of the Community Inclusion & Development Alliance (CIDA), a grassroots organization committed to empowering individuals with disabilities through increased capacity and enhanced inclusion opportunities. Holding a doctorate in Special Education from Teachers College, Columbia University, and drawing from her experience as a special education teacher and a parent of a person with autism, Dr. Bae offers a unique perspective and profound understanding in her impactful work. Currently, she actively contributes as a committee member on the Advisory Council on Postsecondary Education for Students with Disabilities at the NY State Education Department and the Center for Appropriate Dispute Resolution in Special Education.

Veera Mookerjee

Resolveera 

Veera Mookerjee, Ph.D., LMSW graduated from Yeshiva University, NYC. Her thesis title being “Transitioning Young Adults with Autism: Hopes and challenges for parents and care givers”. Post graduation she started her consultancy, Resolveera that focuses on serving the underserved, non-clinical transitional challenges faced by parents and caregivers of individuals with DD/ IDD and DE&I challenges. She founded and runs Resolveera along with a full time Training Specialist for Anthem BlueCross BlueSheild’s Education and Training department and also provides Mental Health therapy at the The Child Center of New York, a Mental Health clinic in NYC. Veera organizes parent workshops, training and provides consultancy services to Early Intervention centers. Veera is on the board of New York Zero To Three (NYZTT), and Co-Chairs the organization’s DE&I Committee. She is the Vice President of the Board of a new South Asian Mental Health focused CBO in NYC and collaborates with agencies focusing on community health. She is a long-standing member of National Association for Social Workers (NASW) NY State Chapter and is on their Diversity Committee. She has been recently re-elected as the Westchester County, NY State Division Director and represented the County at the State’s NASW Board. Veera conducts CEU workshops for Social Workers in NYS, as she is one of the facilitators for the “Unapologetically South Asian” a Special Interest Group run by NASW-NYS chapter to promote best practice in clinical and non-clinical setup while working with the community. Veera’s book titled “Transitioning Young Adults with Autism”, summarizes her doctoral study and is available in Amazon for interested readers. Dr. Mookerjee works with diverse communities, excels in public relations and networking strategies.