Federal Grant Award Summary

Vanderbilt University received a $677,188 Project Grant award dated June 8, 2026, from the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) under the Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders program (CFDA 93.173). The project, "EMT en Español para el Autismo: Early Caregiver-Mediated Communication Intervention for Latino and Spanish-Speaking Young Children with ASD," addresses critical service gaps for Spanish-speaking children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who face documented disparities in access to early intervention services. The research will develop and evaluate a language-focused intervention designed to build vocabulary and early syntax skills using typical Spanish language developmental sequences rather than English translations.

The primary deliverable is a culturally adapted, caregiver-implemented Natural Developmental Behavioral Intervention (NDBI) that teaches Spanish-speaking caregivers evidence-based communication strategies for young children with ASD. EMT en Español is distinguished as the only NDBI currently employing Spanish-specific language development protocols rather than translated English interventions. The five-year project period, extending through May 31, 2031, will generate research outcomes and intervention materials to address the identified gap in culturally appropriate, high-quality communication interventions for Latino and Spanish-speaking families, advancing implementation science and clinical practice in communication disorders.