Empowering Latinx Parents with Special Education Knowledge: Pilot Study and Trauma Assessment

Authors

• Sloane Clay, LSU Health Sciences Center - New OrleansFollow
• Sebastián Del Corral Winder, LSU Health Sciences Center - New OrleansFollow
• Valeria Faria Maraver, LSU Health Sciences Center - New OrleansFollow
• Maria Lugo, LSU Health Sciences Center - New OrleansFollow
• Megan Maher, LSU Health Sciences Center - New OrleansFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-16-2026

Publication Title

Journal of Latinos and Education

Abstract

Spanish-speaking children face a myriad of cultural, linguistic, and systemic barriers and discrimination when seeking Special Education services. This pilot study assessed a brief seminar-based intervention to increase Latinx families’ knowledge about SPED services and explored families’ qualitative experiences with the school system (N = 10 families). Parents’ knowledge of special education increased pre- versus post-seminar (t([9]) = -4.846, p < 0.001). Children’s psychiatric diagnoses were positively correlated with the number of traumatic and stressor events (t(18) = -9.08, p =.006). Families reported that schools would provide them with incomplete information about their children’s needs and that persistence was a positive way to navigate these services.

Rights

Copyright © 2026 Informa UK Limited

Recommended Citation

Clay, Sloane; Del Corral Winder, Sebastián; Faria Maraver, Valeria; Lugo, Maria; and Maher, Megan, "Empowering Latinx Parents with Special Education Knowledge: Pilot Study and Trauma Assessment" (2026). School of Medicine Faculty Publications. 4703.
https://digitalscholar.lsuhsc.edu/som_facpubs/4703
10.1080/15348431.2026.2675536