Awareness, Use, and Satisfaction with Services for Latino Parents of Young Children with Disabilities

Abstract

We interviewed 200 Latino parents of young children with disabilities to determine awareness, use, and satisfaction with services. We also examined use of alternative treatments and the relationship between child and family variables and awareness, use, and satisfaction. A high degree of awareness was noted but only a moderate degree of satisfaction was found. Mothers were more aware of and perceived use of more services than fathers. With few exceptions, family and child variables bore little relationship to awareness, use, or satisfaction. No families pursued alternative treatments as their primary source of help, although several used them in a minor way. Program variables may be more likely determinants of service use and satisfaction than family factors alone.