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The purpose of this study was to identify and learn about the cultural and language barriers that Latino families face when accessing applied behavior analysis ABA services for their children with autism spectrum disorder ASD. We administered a survey to gather basic descriptive information regarding language and cultural barriers faced by Latino families, specifically from a sample of families living in Nevada.
We then conducted follow-up interviews and focus groups to collect detailed accounts of the barriers that these families faced. We used qualitative research methods to provide a detailed analysis that captured the voices of the families who participated in this study. The information provided from the survey and focus groups provides preliminary information for practitioners to help bridge gaps and provide more effective and quality services for the Latino population.
Results of the focus groups and interviews are summarized and implications for future research are discussed. As one of the fastest growing communities within the United States US , it is expected that by , the Latino 1 population will grow up to The Latino population varies significantly by each state in the US. Despite the large representation in numbers, Latinos continue to face barriers in access to healthcare, including behavioral services. However, it is unclear how many of the services that are being provided by behavior analysts are being accessed by the Latino community.
A prevalent barrier among Latino families is obtaining an autism spectrum disorder ASD diagnosis for their children in order to receive behavioral services. While the national prevalence of ASD is currently 1 in 44 children in , the current estimate for Latino children is lower Maenner et al. Language can furthermore play a critical role in this setting.
