Date: September 23rd, 2025 12:30-1:30 pm
Location: Language Science Center at UMD, 2130 H.J. Patterson Hall
Zoom Link: go.umd.edu/umarc-talk-zoom
Speaker: Elizabeth Morgan (Associate Professor, Morgan State University)
Promising Practices for Supporting Black Autistic Children and Their Families Post-Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted U.S. schools in ways that deepened existing inequities, with BIPOC disabled students receiving the least support during distance learning. This presentation highlights promising practices for partnering with families to support Black students on the autism spectrum. Drawing on interviews with Black mothers of autistic children conducted during the pandemic, the findings illustrate how increased time and proximity gave parents new insights into their children’s academic needs. As parents assumed the role of educational facilitators, they developed a deeper understanding of the curriculum and became active agents in the learning process. Evidence points to two central themes: (a) provider–parent partnerships are essential to the educational success of Black autistic students, and (b) service delivery systems must be reimagined to foster authentic collaborations that enhance child outcomes. The presentation will also draw on Dr. Morgan’s broader scholarship on parent advocacy and her lived experience as a mother of children with developmental disabilities, which continue to shape her research and commitment to equity in education.