Valdes-Agrait set up an interview with the child and family in their home. It is very important to visit the home to note any cultural signs. As it turned out, Valdes-Agrait, who has expertise in Puerto Rican folk culture and religious traditions, immediately noticed that a piece of bread had been tacked to the front door and an altar placed in the hallway. The important thing to remember is that in Puerto Rico, entierro is considered normal and a sign of spirituality, Valdes-Agrait stresses. In the absence of other significant symptoms, which must always be considered, Valdes-Agrait recommended accepting the child's report of praying with a dead Indian as real and encourage the mother to select prayer times during normal waking hours.
Belief systems can exist after people have left their home countries.
It is important to consult with professionals familiar with the culture. We must get this information into the hands of families in responsive and respectful ways. With support from OSEP, Markey is disseminating information about PBS to families in underserved areas. The first thing we do is to get families thinking differently about their child and ways that they can impact the child's environment to make a positive difference. They are encouraged to observe their child to get a sense of the purpose or function of the behavior and to hypothesize about the pay-offs to the child's behaviors.