Media advisory: Racial disparities apparent in autism identification, researcher says

LAWRENCE — Jason Travers, assistant professor of special education at the University of Kansas, is available to speak with media about Autism Awareness Month, autism and research taking place on the topic. April is Autism Awareness Month.

Travers, a former public school educator for learners with autism, conducts research in the effects of shared active surface technology on academic, communicative and social-behavioral skills of learners with autism and trends in racially disparate identification of students in the autism eligibility category and equitable access to early intervention. He recently co-authored research showing that even though all states showed an increase in students with autism from 200 to 2007, black and Hispanic children were significantly underrepresented.

Travers can discuss autism, education for students with autism, the importance of accurate and representational diagnoses, early interventions, the importance of awareness and related topics.

To schedule an interview, contact Mike Krings at 785-864-8860 or mkrings@ku.edu.