At age 18, youth with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (IDD) fall off a service cliff upon transitioning from school to the complexity of the adult service delivery system. Without services, adults with IDD have worse academic, social, behavioral, and economic outcomes. Latino, Spanish-speaking families face unique and exacerbated barriers in accessing services related to language, cultural differences with service providers, and discrimination. This study builds on a pilot randomized-controlled trial to test the efficacy of ASISTIR (Apoyando a nueStros hIjo/as con autiSmo obTener servIcios de tRansición), an advocacy program that educates caregivers about disability services, on improving their children’s access to services and academic and economic outcomes. It uses a randomized waitlist-controlled trial in three sites (The Arcs of New Mexico, Arizona, and Rhode Island) to test the efficacy of an advocacy program that educates caregivers about disability services on improving their children’s access to services and academic and economic outcomes. Burke and colleagues will conduct interviews with intervention group participants one year after program completion to explore the experience of the intervention and will also analyze program costs. Findings will inform practice at three partner organizations and could be more widely scaled to improve outcomes for Latino young adults with IDD.
Does a culturally-adapted advocacy program for parents improve outcomes for Latino, Spanish-speaking young adults with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities?
