Exploratory Evaluation and Initial Adaptation of a Parent Training Program for Hispanic Families of Children with Autism

Over the past two decades, the prevalence of autism has continued to rise, and its impact is felt by families across all races, ethnicities, and cultural backgrounds. Despite the growing number of Hispanic children with autism, most of the research supporting evidence-based practices for families of children with autism is based on studies with non-Hispanic families. The Online and Applied System for Intervention Skills (OASIS) is a training program for parents of children with autism that has been found to improve parents' ability to teach their children new skills and manage challenging behavior. In this paper, we report findings suggesting that although the training is beneficial for Hispanic families, adaptations may be needed to improve its usability and effectiveness with this population. Therefore, using a Cultural Adaptation Process similar to that reported by Domenech Rodriguez and Wieling (2004), we identified cultural adaptations for Spanish-speaking Hispanic families. We describe the specific adaptations recommended by focus groups and an Advisory Board composed of Hispanic families and leaders in the Hispanic community. Given the exploratory nature of this research, we discuss next steps needed to test the adaptations, the need to increase autism awareness within the local Hispanic community, and implications for adapting other highly structured, evidence-based programs that may have limited generalizability to other cultures.