Recent studies have identified that there is a high incidence and prevalence of trauma amongst people with intellectual disabilities which often results in arrested emotional development. Some of this relates to experiences of being restrained or separated from people they know, and some to early traumatic events, such as abandonment or neglect. Historically, most of the consequential emotional difficulties have been labelled as an effect of the disability or more recently, as challenging behaviour. For years psychotherapy has been denied to people with intellectual disabilities who have experienced trauma, on the grounds that they could not benefit from it. While this has proved not to be the case and attempts are being made to redress the balance, individual psychotherapy will always be in short supply. Trauma-informed care in Intellectual Disability will enable support staff to work therapeutically. Written by Dr Pat Frankish, a clinical psychologist with many years of experience in the field of intellectual disability and psychotherapy, whose work is dedicated to the development and growth of Trauma Informed Care as a model of working with people with disabilities.

Much has been written about cognitive development in those who are cognitively impaired. Much is written about attachment for people who don't have disabilities. Yet people with disabilities have suffered discrimination and neglect of their emotional needs, perhaps because the pain of difference cannot be tolerated, perhaps because of lack of will or lack of knowledge. This book aims to help to fill the knowledge gap and to encourage others to overcome their resistance to facing the pain, and will be an important contribution to our understanding of the world of disability and emotional deprivation. In this book - a result of over twenty years experience with people who have disabilities and additional distress as a result of traumatic life experiences - an attempt is made to bring together what we know about early emotional development and the consequences of failure to provide an emotionally nurturing experience, and the results are then applied to people with disabilities.

This book is about Trauma-Informed Care (TIC) for people who have intellectual disabilities (ID). The provision of health and social care services is becoming more trauma informed, including in services for people with ID, where the experience of trauma is being increasingly acknowledged. This book addresses a gap in resources to guide those supporting people with ID by showing how services can work in a trauma informed way. Including contributions from authoritative professionals in the field, and a powerful account of abuse from an expert by experience, the book provides an overview of the history which underpins the importance of trauma and TIC, and the impact of trauma on people who have ID. The second part of the book looks at trauma informed services and a growing and diverse range of therapeutic interventions, including positive behavioural support, intensive interaction, cognitive behavioural psychotherapy, dyadic interpersonal psychotherapy, developmental and psychodynamic approaches.

In this book, the author describes ''what doesn't work'' by outlining the ways in which individuals with intellectual disability may have been damaged by the ''behavioral'' approach to their day-to-day actions. She demonstrates what has been missed through this approach: Needs have not been met, individuals have been misdiagnosed, and trauma responses have been triggered through the exclusive use of behavioral controls, both positive and negative. The author then moves on to describe ''what works.'' She explores the topics of stabilization, prevention, intervention, and the ''mental health plan.'' She proposes a model of behavioral intervention that does not require the use of restraints or contingencies; instead it promotes safety and security and addresses the outstanding issues around trauma.Numerous case studies are discussed, but all the names and relevant details have been altered to protect individuals, staff, and agencies. The mental health plan template the author puts forward instructs and informs staff about how to support people who have experienced trauma, both on a small scale and on a large one. She provides examples of this approach with case studies and illustrates how the plans should be written to ensure optimal implementation. This book gives the professionals and paraprofessionals who have dedicated themselves to this field and to the welfare of individuals with intellectual disability a trauma-informed paradigm within which to support people with intellectual disability psychologically and to establish the critical elements needed for recovery. As the author states in her introduction, ''when the individual recovers, behaviors change. When the individual recovers, happiness can begin.''

Approximately 2.5 million people in the United States--one percent of the population--have an intellectual disability (previously referred to as mental retardation). These conditions range from genetic disorders such as Down syndrome to disabilities caused by infectious diseases and brain injury. Intellectual Disability: A Guide for Families and Professionals, by one of the country's foremost authorities on intellectual disability, is a comprehensive resource that will be of importance to anyone with a personal connection to a child or adult with a neurodevelopmental disorder. Emphasizing the humanity of persons with intellectual and related developmental disabilities, psychiatrist and pediatrician James Harris provides essential information on assessment and diagnosis of intellectual disability, treatments for specific disorders, and ways to take advantage of the wide array of services available today. The focus throughout is on the development of the person, the positive supports necessary for self-determination, and, to the extent possible, independent decision making. Harris also surveys historical attitudes toward intellectual disability, the medical community's current understanding of its causes and frequency, and the associated physical, behavioral, and psychiatric conditions (such as seizure disorder, depression, and autism) that often accompany particular types of intellectual disability. The book addresses legal, medical, mental health, and research-related issues as well as matters of spirituality, highlighting the ways in which individuals with intellectual disability can meaningfully participate in the spiritual lives of their families and their communities. Each chapter ends with a series of key points to remember, and the book concludes with a list of additional resources of further interest. Intellectual Disability is a must-read for parents and families of those with neurodevelopmental disorders, providing guidance and essential information to help their family members effectively, and to make a significant, positive difference in their lives now and in the future.

Framework document

Parenting and educating a child with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a unique experience for many reasons. Too often, the K-12 school system overlooks the needs of children with ASDs or educators find themselves unprepared to provide a learning environment that fulfills these needs. Parents of children with ASDs must also stay informed on autism support services, school system practices, developmental pediatrics, and more in order to be an active voice in how their children are supported within the school system. Understanding Parent Experiences and Supporting Autistic Children in the K-12 School System shares the experiences of children with ASDs in order to develop more supportive practices for these children as they navigate the K-12 system. It also offers best practices, strategies, and information for educators to provide a sufficient learning environment to support children with ASDs within their classrooms. Covering topics such as assistive tools, inclusive practices, and parent experiences, it is an ideal resource for K-12 administration and faculty, educators, pre-service teachers, policymakers, parents, researchers, and academicians.