Research In Action

For many healthcare providers, it can be challenging to distinguish between behaviors associated with a developmental disability and behaviors resulting from adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). It takes coordination across multiple disciplines to ensure early and accurate diagnosis and treatment of ACEs and/or developmental disabilities.

Research has shown that individuals with disabilities are at increased risk for experiencing violence of all types, especially physical violence and sexual violence. Those with intellectual disabilities or cognitive impairments are at highest risk of violence.

Given the association between ACEs and risk of violence in adulthood and that individuals with developmental disabilities face a higher risk of both ACES and violence in particular, it is important to explore how to identify and address the intersection of ACEs and developmental disabilities in children in a healthcare setting.

On March 5, 2019, CHOP's Violence Prevention Initiative (VPI) hosted a webinar titled "Crossroads of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Developmental Disabilities" that provided a review of ACEs and their impact on behavior and development; information on how to identify the overlap of signs, symptoms, and risk factors of ACEs and developmental disability; and practical advice on how ACEs and developmental disabilities can be addressed in a healthcare setting.

View the full webinar and download a PDF of the slides here.