Latine Caregivers' Perspectives of Autism-Related Services: A Scoping Review

Minoritized cultural groups in the United States experience disparities in diagnostic and intervention services for autistic children. Listening to the experiences of minoritized caregivers when accessing these services can identify areas for structural and individual improvement in cultural responsiveness.

We conducted a scoping review to map the experiences of Latine caregivers of autistic children in navigating autism-related services. Included studies were published between 2015 and 2024 and employed a qualitative design.

Twenty-six studies were included in the review. The caregivers interviewed in these studies were primarily mothers; few studies included fathers or extended family members. Services reviewed included both assessment and intervention. Factors related to assessment and intervention uptake included communication, provider support, logistics, immigration, cultural beliefs, caregivers' knowledge about autism, and social systems.

Public education on the signs of autism and how to access services may address some of the barriers identified by caregivers in this review. Clinicians can provide education and support to empower caregivers to advocate for their children.