Examining Cultural and Linguistic Sensitivity of Pathways Early Autism Intervention with Hispanic Families.

Researchers looked at whether the Pathways early autism program works well for Hispanic families. They talked to 11 Hispanic parents who had completed the program. Parents generally had good experiences with Pathways, especially because it considered their language and cultural needs. However, the program could do better at balancing proven autism strategies with important Hispanic family values like respect.

The study shows Pathways is moving in the right direction for serving Hispanic families but needs some improvements.

This 2024 study evaluated the cultural and linguistic sensitivity of Pathways, a parent-mediated early autism intervention, for Hispanic families. Using Bernal et al.'s ecologically valid framework, researchers conducted semi-structured interviews with 11 Hispanic parents 1.5 years post-intervention. The evaluation examined current practices and parental perceptions across multiple cultural domains. Findings indicated that Pathways demonstrated strengths as a culturally and linguistically sensitive intervention in the domains of context, methods, language, and persons.

However, the program struggled to balance evidence-based strategies with the Hispanic cultural value of 'respeto' (respect). Parents generally reported positive experiences, with interview participants being less educated and more monolingual Spanish-speaking than non-participants, yet rating their experience more positively.

Pathways shows promise as a culturally sensitive intervention for Hispanic families, but requires refinement to better integrate cultural values with evidence-based practices. Clinicians should consider cultural adaptation when implementing parent-mediated interventions with Hispanic families, particularly regarding language accessibility and respect for cultural values.

Small sample size (11 interview participants from 19 contacted). Selection bias present as interview participants differed from non-participants in education and language. No control group or pre-post outcome measures reported. Limited generalizability beyond this specific Hispanic population.

This research aimed to evaluate evidence of Pathways parent-mediated early autism intervention as a culturally and linguistically sensitive intervention (CLSI) for Hispanic families with autistic children. We used Bernal et al.'s ecologically valid (EV) framework to evaluate current practice and Hispanic parents' perceptions of Pathways 1 ½ years after completing the intervention. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were used. Nineteen parents were contacted, of which 11 completed a semi-structured interview about their experience with Pathways.

On average, the group that completed the interview was less educated, had more monolingual Spanish speakers, and rated their general experience with the intervention slightly more positively than those who did not agree to complete the interview. A review of Pathways's current practices through the lens of the EV framework suggested that Pathways was a CLSI for Hispanic participants in the domains of context, methods, language, and persons. Parental interviews echoed these strengths. However, Pathways did less well balancing evidence-based intervention strategies for autistic children with the heritage value of respeto.

Pathways demonstrated strengths regarding cultural and linguistic sensitivity for Hispanic families with young autistic children. Future work with our community stakeholder group will integrate heritage and majority culture perspectives to strengthen Pathways as a CLSI.