title: Brief Report: The Feasibility and Effectiveness of an Advocacy Program for Latino Families of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
abstract: Latino, Spanish-speaking families of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) face unique barriers in special education advocacy. Although advocacy programs are becoming more common in the United States, none of these programs target Latino families. This is a pilot study to examine the feasibility and effectiveness of an advocacy program for Latino families of children with ASD. Using a quasi-experimental design, 40 Latino family members of children with ASD participated in this study. Results demonstrated consistent attendance, low attrition, and high participant satisfaction. Intervention (versus control) group participants demonstrated significantly increased empowerment and special education knowledge, and stronger family-school partnerships. Findings provide preliminary support for advocacy programs for Latino families of children with ASD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Special Education, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 288 Education Building, 1310 S. 6th Street, Champaign, IL, 61820, USA. meghanbm@illinois.edu.
authors.forename: Meghan M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Burke
authors.affiliation: Department of Disability and Human Development, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Magaña
authors.affiliation: Department of Disability and Human Development, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Marlene
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.affiliation: Department of Special Education, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.
authors.forename: Maria P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Mello
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D002651:Child Advocacy / Q000523:psychology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004519:Education, Special / Q000379:methods; D005190:Family / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States / Q000208:ethnology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Advocacy; Empowerment; Family; Family–School Partnership; Services