Spanish-language Unstuck and On Target program for children with autism or ADHD
Official title: Evaluating a Spanish-language Executive Functioning Intervention for Children With Autism and/or ADHD and Their Families
Run by University of Colorado, Denver · NCT07084324 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This program will test whether a Spanish-language version of Unstuck and On Target helps Spanish-speaking caregivers and their 8–11-year-old children with autism and/or ADHD improve executive skills and reduce caregiver strain.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 8 Years to 11 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 40 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | University of Colorado, Denver Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Aurora, Colorado) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | July 15, 2025 |
| Main results expected | March 2029 |
| Study ends | March 2030 |
| Registry record updated | April 3, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07084324 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are Spanish-preferring caregivers at least 18 years old and their 8–11-year-old children who meet DSM-5 criteria for autism and/or ADHD and have verbal skills at or above a seven-year-old level with observable executive functioning difficulties.
✕Probably not a fit
Families who do not speak Spanish, have children outside the 8–11 age range, children with verbal skills below the required level, or who do not report executive functioning difficulties are unlikely to benefit from this program.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
Researchers will randomly assign Spanish-speaking caregiver-child pairs (children aged 8–11 with autism and/or ADHD) to immediate treatment or a waitlist control. Families in the treatment group attend eight weekly clinic-based sessions with parallel groups for children and caregivers using the Spanish-language Unstuck and On Target curriculum. Pre- and post-intervention assessments will measure child executive function, caregiver EF knowledge, caregiver strain, and satisfaction, and participants will be invited to a focus group to share feedback. The study tests feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness of the adapted intervention in a U.S. Spanish-speaking population.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, it could improve children's planning and problem-solving, lower caregiver stress, and expand accessible Spanish-language support for neurodivergent families.
How similar studies have gone: The original English Unstuck and On Target program has evidence of improving executive function and behavior in children, but the Spanish-language adaptation has not been widely tested.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Child is 8-11 years old. * Child meets DSM-5 criteria for Autism Spectrum Disorder and/or ADHD * Child has verbal skills at a 7-year-old level or greater (as measured by WASI Vocabulary and Similarities subtests) * Caregiver endorses at least one of the following executive functioning problems: * Difficulty accepting feedback or criticism. * Difficulty handling frustration. * Difficulty starting non-preferred activities. * Frequent meltdowns. * Not stopping a behavior after being told to stop. * Shutting down in the face of a challenge. * Caregiver is at least 18 years old. * Caregiver identifies Spanish as their preferred or primary language. Exclusion Criteria: \- Individuals will be excluded only if they do not meet one or more of the inclusion criteria listed above.
Where it's running
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University of Colorado Anschutz School of Medicine
Aurora, Colorado, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Jonathan Safer-Lichtenstein, PhD
- Email: jonathan.safer@cuanschutz.edu
- Phone: 303-724-3300
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.