Inclusion of Special Education Students

Choosing Trauma Informed Care for Children with Intellectual Disabilities

We live in a world where all children can experience challenges with their mental health, including those caused by trauma. We know all children can heal after trauma; this includes children with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Sometimes recovery from trauma requires partnership with child- and family-focused mental health care providers. Caregivers play a large and important role in their child’s treatment and recovery, so having information about what help is critical. It might be time to seek help from a mental health provider if a child has experienced trauma, or you notice concerning changes in your child’s behavior or mood that suggest a traumatic experience may have occurred. For more information on that, check out Understanding Trauma Responses in Children with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and When to Seek Help. This is especially the case if these changes leave caregivers feeling overwhelmed.

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Children with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Can Experience Traumatic Stress: A Fact Sheet for Parents and Caregivers

This handout offers parents and caregivers information about how children with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) experience traumatic stress. This fact sheet provides information on the intersection of IDD, trauma, and mental wellness; what intellectual and developmental disabilities are; how trauma might impact children with IDD; why children with IDD are at higher risk for trauma exposure; and how trauma service providers should partner with parents and caregivers. For more information on support, check out the handout, Choosing Trauma Informed Care for Children with Intellectual Disabilities, from NCTSN.

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Applying Universal Design for Learning Supports Inclusive Education

Ensuring education is inclusive of young people with diverse needs and abilities takes intentional practice; UDL can help educators design experiences that benefit all students. This article provides some introductory examples of UDL practices that can be used in a variety of settings. This is not an exhaustive list but rather a starting point, because there is so much more we can do to design learning experiences that are more inclusive and equitable.

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Every Student Matters: Cultivating Belonging in the Classroom

This educator discusses how if students feel anxious socially, they will not be open to taking academic risks, so building a culture of belonging has become his greatest priority. He clarifies what he means by “belonging;” it’s not about “fitting in”—students’ individuality and uniqueness should always be valued. Belonging in the classroom means ensuring that all students feel welcomed, comfortable, and part of the school family. These five strategies can help ensure that students feel they belong in your classroom. 

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Tailoring Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Youth with Developmental Disabilities (TF-CBT IDD) and their Caregivers

This guide is intended for clinicians who have completed basic training in TF-CBT two-day live training conducted by a certified trainer and follow-up consultation calls. This is not meant to be a stand-alone training in itself, but a guide to clinicians in schools who want to understand how trauma impacts youth with hopes of enhancing clinician comfort and flexibility in working with youth with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.

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Social Stories

Social stories are a social learning tool that supports the safe and meaningful exchange of information between parents, professionals, and people with autism of all ages. This site offers lots of information and ideas about understanding and creating social stories.

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