AUTISM ACROSS CULTURES: EXAMINING ECOLOGICAL, SOCIO-CULTURAL, AND ACCULTURATION DYNAMICS IN LATINX FAMILIES

The study specifically focuses on Latinx parents or caregivers of children ages 2–17 who have a clinical ASD diagnosis and who have sought or used autism-related services within the past three years. Through a series of three in-depth, semi-structured interviews, the research aims to capture nuanced perspectives on parenting, advocacy, barriers to services, and culturally informed experiences within systems of care.

Participants eligible for this study include parents or primary caregivers who identify as Latinx or of Latinx descent, including individuals from Central America, the Caribbean, Mexico, and South America. Eligible participants must be the parent or primary caregiver of a child between the ages of 2 and 17 who has received a clinical diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Participants must have actively sought or utilized educational, medical, or therapeutic services related to autism support within the past three years. While participants do not need to be native English speakers, they must be sufficiently proficient in English to complete in-depth interviews. Additionally, participants must be willing to take part in audio-recorded interviews conducted either in person or via Zoom.

Participants in this study can expect to engage in a multi-step qualitative research process designed to better understand their experiences as Latinx parents or caregivers raising a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Participation will begin with a brief online pre-screening questionnaire (approximately 5 minutes) to determine eligibility, along with scheduling consent review. Participants and researcher will be for approximately 25minutes to review and sign consent form along with additional questions and take part in scheduling interview(s). Eligible participants may participate in up to three semi-structured interviews, each lasting approximately 60–75 minutes, conducted either in person or via Zoom, based on participant preference. Interviews will focus on caregiving experiences, cultural and societal influences, stress, and experiences accessing educational, medical, and mental health services. All interviews will be audio-recorded for transcription and analysis purposes. No medical procedures, clinical assessments, or specimen collection are involved. Participation is entirely voluntary, confidential, and participants may withdraw at any time without penalty. Total time commitment across the study is approximately 3.5 to 4 hours.

This study is important because Latinx families raising autistic children remain underrepresented in autism research, particularly in studies that center cultural, societal, and systemic influences on caregiving experiences. By amplifying the voices of Latinx parents and caregivers, this research seeks to identify culturally specific stressors, barriers to accessing services, and strengths that shape family experiences within educational, medical, and mental health systems. Findings from this study may inform clinicians, educators, and service providers about the unique needs and perspectives of Latinx families, contributing to more culturally responsive, equitable, and effective autism-related services. In the future, this research has the potential to guide policy, improve outreach and engagement efforts, and support the development of interventions that are more inclusive and aligned with the lived experiences of diverse families within the autism community.