Decoding Challenges: Understanding Adversity, Trauma, and Developmental Delay

In this session, professionals will learn how to distinguish between neurodiversity or potential disability and the impacts of trauma or mental health concerns in children and students ages from birth to age 22. Participants will understand how to discern whether challenges are due to a disability or delay versus environmental or circumstantial factors like deployment, caregiver illness, or grief. Attendees will gain insights on when to pursue a special education evaluation and when to monitor while providing necessary supports. This session will provide knowledge needed to make informed decisions, ensuring the best outcomes for students will also be discussed.

Learning Objectives:

1. Define and differentiate between adversity and trauma
2. Understand the developmental sequelae of childhood adversity and trauma
3. Understand age-related learning processes and outcomes in the context of adversity and trauma
4. Identify variability in developmental trajectories of children and youth exposed to adversity and trauma
5. Identify trauma-informed educational strategies to help promote learning and development through appropriate support services (e.g., early intervention, infant mental health, special education)

Presenter:

Carlo Panlilio, Ph.D.

Dr. Carlo Panlilio is an Associate Professor of Educational Psychology and a faculty member with the Social Science Research Institute’s Child Maltreatment Solutions Network at the Pennsylvania State University. His research foci include a) adversity, self-regulation, and learning; b) application of novel methodologies to prevention and intervention; and c) trauma-informed systems. Dr. Panlilio previously worked as a family therapist in private practice, community agencies, treatment foster care, and a residential treatment facility for adolescents.

Continuing education credit is available.

Register: https://oneop.org/learn/160081/