Q3. How do you support young children with disabilities who have experienced abuse?

<Catherine Corr>

When caregivers and parents foster protective factors it can lessen the negative effects of maltreatment. Early childhood professionals can play a large role in this work. By promoting a strong and secure emotional bond between children and their caregivers is critical for children’s physical, social, and emotional development, including their ability to form trusting relationships, exhibit positive behaviors, and heal from past traumas. The healing process is not always a clear, straight path, and it takes time. Note many of these practices are good early childhood practices we recommend for all children regardless if they have experienced abuse, neglect or trauma. 
•	Build strong connections with friends, family, and teachers that can support children during challenges and teach them to think about and consider other people’s feelings. 
•	Allow children to feel their feelings. Teach them how to describe those feelings.
•	Be consistent. This will help to teach your child that people can be trusted. 
•	Be patient. Children’s reactions to trauma vary as widely as the types of trauma one can experience. There isn’t one solution. (Child Welfare Information Gateway, 2013)