This research, conducted by VCU School of Education Associate Professor Jennifer Locasale-Crouch and partners at VCU, UVA, and Harvard, provides insights into how communities serve as important markers for early intervention to enhance the lives and well-being of children with disabilities.

The study, titled “Examining the Relationship Between Community Resources and Early Disability Identification: Variation by Child Race or Ethnicity,"  analyzed data from 91,210 incoming kindergarteners in Virginia. By studying this data alongside the Child Opportunity Index (COI) 2.0, which is an index of community indicators such as access to early childhood education, green space, and healthy foods, researchers aimed to understand why some students were identified with disabilities early while others were not.

Several key findings emerged. First, children in lower-resourced communities were less likely to be identified with a disability by kindergarten, limiting their potential access to early intervention support. Second, although race or ethnicity differences emerged in both early identification rates and access to community resources, the strength of the association between community
resources and rate of identification by kindergarten did not vary by child race or ethnicity.

The study concludes that community resources should be viewed as “malleable factors. ” By increasing the availability of pediatric providers, expanding screening programs within communities, and investing in the infrastructure (e.g., access to healthy food and green spaces) of lower-resourced neighborhoods, policymakers can bridge early identification gaps to ensure equitable outcomes for all children. Thus, policy makers and educators can consider ways in which access to developmentally supportive resources across systems can occur.

The team has completed a follow-up study examining changes in disability identification pre- and post-pandemic that is in press and published soon. Future research will explore specific types of disabilities and how community factors intersect with race and health outcomes over time. By addressing these systemic gaps, Dr. LoCasale-Crouch and colleagues aim to ensure
all families have the timely support they need to thrive.

Access the full study here:

LoCasale-Crouch, J., Lenahan, T., Shea, Z. et al. Examining the Relationship Between Community Resources and Early Disability Identification: Variation by Child Race or Ethnicity. Prev Sci 26, 999–1009 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-025-01829-4