Dr. Ruth Brown-Ennis

Dr. Ruth Brown-Ennis

Assistant Professor at VCU
[email protected]

Lessons Learned

• There are critical gaps in professional training around disability and trauma.
  Despite years of clinical and academic training, I was not prepared to support children with disabilities — especially those with higher support needs — who had experienced maltreatment. This gap is not unique to me. Educators, healthcare professionals, therapists, and caseworkers across disciplines often lack foundational knowledge about disability and are rarely trained in trauma-informed approaches tailored to this population. We need systemic changes in training programs to ensure the next generation of providers is equipped to serve children with disabilities with competence and compassion.
• Bridging the gap between research, practice, and policy is essential to making an impact.
  Evidence-based interventions and trauma-informed practices are only meaningful if they reach the people who need them. That means more than publishing papers — it requires strategic dissemination, translation for families and frontline providers, and sustained engagement with policymakers at all levels. Embedding research into systems of care, school protocols, and service funding structures is critical to reducing the risk and impact of maltreatment among children with disabilities.
• Families and providers need clear, accessible, and actionable guidance.
  Even the best research can fall flat if it’s not communicated clearly. I’ve learned that families and providers are hungry for simple, direct guidance on how to recognize signs of trauma, respond effectively, and support healing — especially when navigating complex disability needs. Investing in the co-creation of resources that reflect real-world challenges and lived experience is essential for uptake and effectiveness.

Resources Developed

• Thriving: Helping Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Heal and Thrive Following Trauma: https://hope.lab.vcu.edu/thriving/ (technically focused on adults with disabilities)
• VCU Autism Center for Education webcast series Part 1: The Essential Messages of Trauma Responsive Practices https://vcuautismcenter.org/te/webcasts/details.cfm/623 
• VCU Autism Center for Education webcast series Part 2: Understanding Traumatic Stress Responses
  https://vcuautismcenter.org/te/webcasts/details.cfm/624
• VCU Autism Center for Education webcast series Part 3: Trauma Responsive Strategies for the Classroom
  https://vcuautismcenter.org/te/webcasts/details.cfm/625

Suggested Resources

• National Child Traumatic Stress Network Road to Recovery Toolkit - https://www.nctsn.org/resources/road-recovery-supporting-children-intel…
• Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy IDD Implementation Guide: https://tfcbt.org/idd-implementation-guide/
• Trauma-Informed Behavioral Interventions: What Works and What Doesn't, by Karyn Harvey https://www.aaidd.org/publications/bookstore-home/product-listing/traum…

Collaborative Areas of Interest

• Trauma and traumatic stress measure development.
• Understanding the epigenetic and biological effects of maltreatment in youth and adults with developmental disabilities.
• Traumatic stress interventions tailored to youth and adults with intellectual disabilities.