Autism Therapy: parent training

Megha Satyanarayana, a reporter for the Santa Cruz Sentinel, recently completed a 2-part series on the issues faced by Latino families with autism. She states, “A 2007 report from the California Department of Developmental Services found since December 2002, the autism population among Latinos grew 104 percent, while whites grew 59 percent.” There is the obvious language issue, with many services not offered to Spanish-speaking families. For example, while there are Spanish-speaking support groups in other parts of California, Santa Cruz has only English-speaking Special Parents Information Network and the Special Needs Parent Training Alliance. In addition, there are cultural issues. Many Latino families feel uncomfortable sharing about having a child with autism or other special needs. Teresa Montes de Oca, leader of Fiesta Educativa in San Jose, says, “Culturally, it's hard, because a lot of the times, they don't have the information they need," she said. "The parents really look up to having a boy in the family, but if the boy has special needs, parents feel like, What happened? This is not what I was expected.” In Watsonville, there is a wonderful resource, La Manaza Community Resources, where families can receive referrals to Spanish-speaking services for themselves and their children.

Read original article: Alone with Autism: Latino Families Struggle with the Mysterious Illness