Culturally adapted Pathways to support social and language skills in young Hispanic autistic children
Meeting the Needs of Young Hispanic Autistic Children: Developing a Culturally and Linguistically Sensitive Intervention to Alleviate Core Social Challenges
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
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 200 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Months to 42 Months |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | The University of Texas at Dallas Academic / other |
| Locations | 3 sites (Lawrence, Kansas and 2 other locations) |
| Trial ID | NCT06733584 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
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.
Who should consider this trial
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.
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.
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 performed: 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.
Eligibility criteria
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 \< 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 Criteria: * 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
Where this trial is running
Lawrence, Kansas and 2 other locations
- University of Kansas — Lawrence, Kansas, United States (Active_not_recruiting)
- Catholic Charities of Dallas — Dallas, Texas, United States (Recruiting)
- University of Texas at Dallas — Richardson, Texas, United States (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
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.