Trauma impacts a disproportionate number of people with disabilities (Harrell, E., 2021). While many mental health practices provide trauma care as a specialty, many mental health professionals feel unprepared to treat individuals with disabilities who have experienced trauma. This session will provide training on general issues related to disability, as well as specific information on adapting interventions, to increase both competence and confidence for mental health support to individuals with disabilities. Participants will also learn about the “medical model” vs. the “social model” of disability and the impact that they have on the ability of individuals with disability to access appropriate trauma intervention. Dual diagnosis (disability plus a mental health diagnosis) will be discussed as an important consideration in developing treatment plans. The presenter will review trauma basics and discuss their application to individuals with disabilities and the impact of trauma in the lives of individuals with disability. She will also discuss risk factors that contribute to high incidence of trauma in the lives of individuals with disabilities. Participants will learn about communication differences, as well as challenges in perspective taking (Theory of Mind), that can influence the mental health professional’s choice of intervention approach, especially in work with clients with Autism Spectrum Disorders and Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. Finally, the presenter will discuss specific tools and strategies that can be used in conjunction with evidence-based trauma interventions to support clients with disabilities in their trauma processing.
Susan Kahan provides consultation and training for law enforcement, child protection agencies, disability agencies, and mental health professionals on disability-related topics including law enforcement and disability, sexual abuse, human trafficking, and trauma. Susan is a certified forensic interviewer and works as a clinical therapist at University of Illinois at Chicago.