Lessons learned from Hispanic mothers in the United States: Recommendations for personnel preparation and research in visual impairment

Abstract

This study reports the results of interviews conducted with families from Hispanic backgrounds who have children with visual impairments receiving special education services. Families were recruited in two states within the United States. A total of 11 Hispanic mothers participated in the study. The interviews were conducted to learn about family needs and perspectives to inform personnel preparation. Four major themes emerged from the interviews: quantity and quality of services, communication issues, need for resources, and cultural differences. Discussion provides insights learned by the researchers when working with culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) families, including considerations for data gathering, cultural rapport, and recruitment of participants.