Meeting the Needs of Young Hispanic Autistic Children
Meeting the Needs of Young Hispanic Autistic Children: Developing a Culturally and Linguistically Sensitive Intervention to Alleviate Core Social Challenges
The University of Texas at Dallas
200 participants
Sep 22, 2025
INTERVENTIONAL
Conditions
Summary
Purpose of the Study: The goal of this clinical trial is to find out if a technique called the "mutual gaze procedure" used in a Culturally and Linguistically Responsive adaptation of Pathways Early Intervention (CLR-Pathways) is the key to improving social communication, language, and everyday skills in young (18-42 months) Hispanic autistic children experiencing low income. What Will Happen: Researchers will compare two versions of CLR-Pathways. * Version 1: Includes mutual gaze strategies. * Version 2: Does not include mutual gaze strategies. What to Expect: Participants will: * Attend 16 sessions (or 18 weeks if there are cancellations) of Pathways Intervention, each lasting 1.5 hours. * Come to the clinic for a developmental check-up three times: before starting Pathways, right after completing Pathways, and three months after finishing Pathways.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria5
- Children must be from a Hispanic family experiencing low income, defined as having an income-to-needs ratio of < 200% of the federal poverty level, determined by their household size
- Children must be between 18-42 months old at the start of the study
- Children must have no other known neurological or genetic concerns or disorders determined by parent report
- Children must receive a Calibrated Severity Score (CSS) of 4 or higher on the Autism Diagnostic Observational Schedule-2 (ADOS-2) administered by a qualified bilingual assessment associate
- Families must have a primary home language of English and/or Spanish
Exclusion Criteria5
- Children who are from a family that is not Hispanic and/or does not have an income-to-needs ratio of < 200% of the federal poverty level, determined by their household size
- Children younger than 18 months or older than 42 months at the start of the study
- Children whose parents report they have any other known neurological or genetic concerns or disorders
- Children who receive a Calibrated Severity Score (CSS) lower than 4 on the ADOS-2
- Families who do not have English or Spanish as a primary home language
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Interventions
Pathways-trained bilingual research clinicians will conduct 90-minute weekly coaching sessions with caregivers in the family's home or other convenient location. Caregivers will receive a written and audio version of the program manual which has been adapted to be culturally and linguistically responsive to the Hispanic community. Sessions will review information about social communication, social sensory routines, and using naturalistic developmental behavioral strategies. Interventionists will demonstrate intervention strategies and provide caregivers with feedback and self-reflection.
Pathways-trained bilingual research clinicians will conduct 90-minute weekly coaching sessions with caregivers in the family's home or other convenient location. Caregivers will receive a written and audio version of the program manual which has been adapted to be culturally and linguistically responsive to the Hispanic community. Sessions will review information about social communication, infusing mutual gaze in social sensory routines, and using naturalistic developmental behavioral strategies. Interventionists will demonstrate intervention strategies and provide caregivers with feedback and self-reflection.
Locations(3)
View Full Details on ClinicalTrials.gov
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NCT06733584