3.1.4 L-Squared Spanish: Language Support for Families and their Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (Thompson)

2019

Project Summary This application is in response to the 2019 Request for Applications from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Autism Grant Program: Parent-Directed Treatment. We propose to extend our current project (Lsquared: Exponentially increasing language and literacy through high quality literacy instruction parent training) to serve Spanish-speaking families in Texas. We will refer to the proposed project as Lsquared-Spanish. Our population target includes Spanish speaking families with preschool and elementary-aged children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Our goals are to serve 115 Spanish-speaking families, train 5 community service providers serving Spanish-speaking families, improve parent emotional well-being, and increase language and literacy skills of Spanish-speaking children with ASD. We will achieve this by engaging in high-impact recruitment strategies, developing culturally adapted Spanish-translated reading and communication materials, taking part in regular evaluation and continuous improvement, and using behavior skills training to train parents and community service providers in the following evidence-based strategies: story-based instruction, augmentative and alternative communication, conversation expansion, and positive behavior supports. Project Scope, Goals, and Description Project Scope Lsquared-Spanish: Supporting Spanish-speaking families to increase emergent literacy and language of their children with autism through story-based instruction. The proposed project will build on our prior THECB-funded (2017-2019) parent directed treatment project. Lsquared-Spanish will involve working directly with 115 Spanish-speaking families of preschool and elementary-aged children with autism by providing group and individualized training. We will improve the (a) mode of our intervention by providing common sessions in a group instructional arrangement family program and in half-day parent training workshops; (b) breadth of our service through providing services within a 90-mile radius of College Station inclusive of Austin, Houston, Waco and the rural and suburban areas between; and, (c) depth of our services by specifically targeting recruitment of individuals from low socioeconomic status. In addition, we will translate our training videos and instructional materials into Spanish and make them available online to further increase our reach.

parent-directed, training, autism, literacy, Spanish, Spanish-speaking

Performing Direct and/or Demonstration Services, Performing Research or Evaluation

Education & Early Intervention

Family Members/Caregivers

Racial or Ethnic Minorities, Disadvantaged Circumstances, Limited English, Geographic Areas, Rural/Remote, Specific Groups

State

N/A