Trauma-Informed Approach Gains Traction in Care of Youth and Adults With Developmental Disabilities
By Lorraine McLarney, LMHC, and Mary Quinn, LICSW
While trauma-informed care has been an essential component within the mental health, education, and criminal justice fields for many years, the practice is finally gaining traction with caregiving agencies who work with individuals with developmental disabilities (DDs). It’s about time.
Research has shown that people with DDs experience alarmingly high rates of trauma and abuse. They are less likely to tell someone about the abuse or may be limited in their ability to process it. They’re likely to display more trauma-related behavior, with their disability often limiting the capacity to heal from it. They face immense stigma and marginalization by society at large, which may be traumatic in itself or make traumatic experiences worse.
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