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Reply to "Older adolescents/young adults with developmental trauma"

Welcome Gail!
More power to you for being an advocate for your child and all the children whose parents are not able (for whatever reason) to be the squeaky wheel, speaking truth to power, and holding onto a position/opinion that is right for your child but not necessary accepted by the mainstream. 

I am so sorry you and your child are having such difficulty. 

While not specifically attachment disorder (although in some ways similar but with different underlying causes) your struggles sound so familiar, my two kiddos were diagnosed with autism and we struggled to find and obtain the interventions needed to make a real difference in their developmental trajectories. I can recall saying (in IEP meetings and elsewhere) if my kiddos had a medical condition then we could get assistance - as if the mind and the body are not connected. Very frustrating, even for me, a public health nurse who worked "in the system". It was eye opening and heartbreaking. It is a long story... however I can say that today they are doing well and all the difficult, alienating, advocacy really did payoff. The outcome for other families we were close to, who followed the educational system's recommendations (vs the emerging science around autism related interventions) their kiddos will need lifelong support. This is not to be judgmental, it is to say you know your kiddos best. Listen to your heart and voraciously read the emerging science. 

Once the dust settled a bit, I was appointed to the board of a statewide organization advocating on behalf of people with developmental disabilities. 

Locally, overtime, I've seen many board positions go unfilled - meaning missed opportunities to bring a voice to meetings where key decisions are being made - that will impact the lives of those we love. Here is an example of a board in MA: Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council

I am wishing you all the best - and appreciate you reaching out here on ACEs Connection and shining a light on developmental trauma and attachment disorder.

You've also sparked me to wonder if these issues are being considered when new ACEs screening forms are being piloted / developed? Thanks for nudging me to wonder ...
Karen

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