Indigenous Autism in Canada: A Scoping Review

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Bruno, G., Chan, T. A., Zwaigenbaum, L., Coombs, E. C., Circle, T. I. R., & Nicholas, D. (2023). Indigenous Autism in Canada: A Scoping Review. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 54(9), 3478-3491. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-023-06045-z

Publication date: 22 Jul 2023 Added to AutiHub: 9 Aug 2026 Type: Article Article language: English
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Authors

Publication authors
6
Publication authors identified as autistic
1 / 6 (16.7%)
  1. Grant Bruno
  2. Titus A Chan
  3. Lonnie Zwaigenbaum
  1. Emily C. Coombs *
  2. The Indigenous Relations Circle
  3. David Nicholas

Abstract

Abstract Currently there is a severe lack of research on autism and Indigenous people in Canada. This scoping review explores this literature gap and assesses the same literature from an Indigenous perspective. Scoping reviews are an effective means to explore the literature in a specific area, in this case, autism and Indigenous people in Canada. We explored existing literature as it pertains to Indigenous populations and autism in Canada. To support this review, the Indigenous Quality Assessment Tool (QAT) was adapted to appraise the quality of literature. In total, there were a total of 212 articles identified of which 24 met the inclusion criteria: (1) some focus on autism, (2) a component specific to Indigenous people, and (3) specific to Canada. Of the 24 articles and reports, 15 were peer-reviewed and the rest considered grey literature. Most articles focused on program delivery with some literature using primary data (quantitative and/or qualitative). Overall, the quality of the research was appraised as poor, as determined by the QAT. Findings reaffirm the critical need for research that addresses autism in Indigenous communities within Canada and show the importance of having research done in full partnership with, or led by, Indigenous people.

Bibliography cited by this reference

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Bibliography inclusion overview

These indicators describe the cited bibliography imported for this publication. Cited-reference metrics use the cited-reference total as denominator. Cited-author metrics state whether they use all cited-author occurrences or only occurrences linked to authors already integrated in the AutiHub database. They use cached links between cited authors and authors integrated in the AutiHub database. Last computed: 16 Aug 2026 11:31.

Cited references
48
Total cited references integrated for this publication.
Cited references with an identified autistic author
2 / 48 (4.2%)
Cited author occurrences identified as autistic
2 / 146 (1.4%)
Among occurrences linked to AutiHub author records: 2 / 22 (9.1%). Distinct cited authors identified as autistic: 2 / 135 (1.5%).
Cited author occurrences linked to AutiHub author records
22 / 146 (15.1%)
Distinct linked cited authors: 14 / 135 (10.4%)
Linked cited-author occurrences not identified as autistic
20 / 22 (90.9%)
Among linked cited-author occurrences only. Across all cited-author occurrences: 20 / 146 (13.7%). Distinct linked cited authors not identified as autistic: 12 / 14 (85.7%).
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