Jewish American Parents Navigating Autism Supports: Exploring Culturally Responsive Services, Advocacy, and Schooling

By Beth L. Raiola

This book explores how Jewish American parents perceive the cultural responsiveness of autism support services provided through public education and clinical settings across the United States. Drawing on qualitative interviews and focus groups with thirteen parents, the study examines how cultural identity shapes experiences of inclusion, advocacy, and service provision. It highlights the ways in which Jewish cultural needs are often overlooked in mainstream autism programming, and how families navigate these gaps through community engagement and personal adaptation.

The book contributes to interdisciplinary debates on culturally responsive care, neurodiversity, and minority representation in educational and behavioral health systems. It situates Jewish American experiences within broader discussions of ethnic and religious identity, offering insights for educators, clinicians, and policymakers seeking to improve equity in autism services. Methodologically, it integrates case study research with thematic analysis and reflects on the generalizability of findings globally.

This timely study will be of interest to scholars and practitioners in psychology, education, sociology, psychiatry, and religious studies, particularly those working at the intersection of culture and neurodiversity. It also offers practical implications for training professionals to better support culturally diverse families.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 3032292980
• ISBN13: 9783032292988
• Release Date: November 2026
• Publisher: Palgrave MacMillan
• Length: 92 Pages