Improving Health through Trauma-informed Approaches for Individuals with Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, their Families and Caregivers
December 12, 2018
The Annual Meeting of the Washington Autism Advisory Council was held last month at the Tukwila Community Center in Tukwila Washington. The Washington Autism Advisory Council (WAAC) is a statewide partnership of autism organizations, family members, medical providers, educators, and state agencies working together to influence policy and services for individuals with autism and their families. The council meets once a year to share news and updates about autism-specific events, programs, and activities as well as to address current challenges faced in access to services and supports for those impacted by autism. Approximately 65 people attended from a cross-section of Family Support Organizations, University of Washington, the Autistic Adult community, researchers, behavioral specialists, and State Agencies.
The focus of this year's all day meeting was "Improving Health through Trauma-informed Approaches for Individuals with Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, their Families and Caregivers" and included a literature review Addressing Trauma in Therapy with Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder from the Bernier Lab at Seattle Children's Autism Center, panel discussions on the lived experience of parents of individuals with Autism and Autistic Adults and community professionals. Participants and presenters discussed trauma informed approaches in healthcare and community settings, as well as in community based, participatory research settings. The experience of trauma affects neurobiology, psychological processes, and social attachment in complex ways that can contribute to a range of health concerns across the lifespan.
The lived experience panel was made up of both parents of children with autism and autistic young adults who shared their experiences around the trauma they experience regularly as they try to navigate through systems that often fall short of meeting the needs of autism. The need is great and a lot of ideas were shared and new connections made. Moving forward there are plans to explore models that support peer mentoring financing through behavioral health systems, increased autism awareness and an autism resource website that can help to support a wider breadth of autism needs.
