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Clinical trial Recruiting at 2 sites Interventional Ages 18 Months to 42 Months

Culturally adapted Pathways to support social and language skills in young Hispanic autistic children

Official title: Meeting the Needs of Young Hispanic Autistic Children: Developing a Culturally and Linguistically Sensitive Intervention to Alleviate Core Social Challenges

Run by The University of Texas at Dallas · NCT06733584 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This project tests whether adding a 'mutual gaze' technique to a culturally adapted parent-led Pathways program helps social communication, language, and everyday skills in Hispanic autistic children aged 18–42 months from low-income families.

Quick facts

Study typeInterventional
Ages18 Months to 42 Months
SexAll
Enrollment200 (estimated)
SponsorThe University of Texas at Dallas
Academic / other
Locations3 sites (Lawrence, Kansas and 2 other locations)
StatusRecruiting
StartedSeptember 22, 2025
Main results expectedJanuary 2028
Study endsJanuary 2028
Registry record updatedJune 5, 2026
Trial IDNCT06733584 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Is this trial a fit for you?

Likely a good fit

Ideal candidates are Hispanic children aged 18–42 months from low-income households (income-to-needs <200% of the federal poverty level) with an ADOS-2 calibrated severity score of 4 or higher, no other known neurological or genetic disorders, and families whose primary home language is English and/or Spanish.

Probably not a fit

Children who are non-Hispanic, outside the 18–42 month age range, have significant medical or genetic comorbidities, do not meet the ADOS-2 severity threshold, or come from higher-income households may not fit or benefit from this specific intervention.

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

Researchers will randomize 200 Hispanic children (18–42 months) from low-income families to one of two versions of a Culturally and Linguistically Responsive Pathways parent-mediated intervention—one including mutual gaze strategies and one without—delivered in homes or other convenient locations across three sites. Families attend 16 sessions of 1.5 hours over approximately 18 weeks, with developmental assessments at baseline, immediately post-intervention, and at a three-month follow-up using culturally and linguistically appropriate measures. Assessments include the ADOS-2 at baseline for research diagnosis and standardized measures of cognitive, motor, communication, and social skills at each time point. The randomized, parallel-group design tests whether the mutual gaze component adds measurable improvement to social communication, language, and everyday functioning.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the mutual gaze adaptation could improve social communication, language, and everyday functioning for young Hispanic autistic children and provide a culturally tailored early-intervention option for underserved families.

How similar studies have gone: Parent-mediated Pathways-style interventions have shown benefits for early social communication in autism, but incorporating a mutual gaze procedure within a culturally and linguistically adapted model for low-income Hispanic families is a newer, less-tested approach.

Who can join: the full rules

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria 
Inclusion Criteria:

* Children must be from a Hispanic family experiencing low income, defined as having an income-to-needs ratio of \< 320% 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 Criteria:

* Children who are from a family that is not Hispanic and/or does not have an income-to-needs ratio of \< 320% 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

Where it's running

  • Catholic Charities of Dallas
    Dallas, Texas, United States     Recruiting
  • University of Texas at Dallas
    Richardson, Texas, United States     Recruiting
  • University of Kansas
    Lawrence, Kansas, United States     Active not recruiting

Study contacts

  • Principal investigator: Pamela Rollins, EdD — The University of Texas at Dallas
  • Study coordinator: Pamela Rollins, EdD
  • Email: rollins@utdallas.edu
  • Phone: 972-883-3153

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

How to take part

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
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Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.