08/03/2026
As an advocate for people with developmental disabilities, it is important to understand Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). ACEs are difficult or stressful events that happen before age 18. These early experiences can affect a person’s growth, health, emotions, relationships, and learning later in life. ACEs are never the person’s fault. By understanding ACEs, we can give care and support that is safe, calm, and helpful.
Fast Facts
ACEs include abuse (e.g., psychological, physical, and sexual), neglect (e.g., emotional and physical), family or household challenges (e.g., substance abuse, mental illness, parental separation, domestic violence, and imprisoned household member).
ACEs can worsen any existing physical and mental health challenges.
Children with any physical, complex needs, or disability are more likely to experience adverse events.
In Ohio, people with developmental disabilities are more likely to have two or more ACEs than Ohioans without disabilities
(Healthy Policy Institute of Ohio, ACEs: Health Impact of ACEs in Ohio, August 2020).
A person with a developmental disability is more likely to experience changes in school, placements, and out-of-home settings than a person without a disability
(National Child Trauma Stress Network, National Association for Dually Diagnosed, The Impact of Trauma on Youth with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 2020).
ACEs can potentially raise the chances of lifelong health and mental health challenges.
Access and opportunities to safe, consistent, and supportive relationships lower the impact of ACEs.
ACEs can be prevented by creating and supporting strong families, connected communities, and safe environments.
Signs and Symptoms
Chronic health conditions (e.g., diabetes, obesity, and heart disease).
Anxiety, depression, and substance abuse.
Suicidal thoughts, feelings, and behavior.
Risky choices such as smoking, physical inactivity, substance misuse, and sexual behavior.
Feeling scared, worried, sad, or angry.
Shutting down or acting younger than a person’s age.
Trouble sleeping.
Trouble trusting others or making friends.
These are survival skills, not personal failures.
What Can You Do?
Ensure you are calm and regulated.
Prioritize your own physical and emotional well-being.
Use calm, kind, and trauma-informed language. For more information, please visit DODD’s Trauma-Informed Care webpage.
Give voice, choice, and control as much as possible.
Create predictable daily routines.
Avoid sudden changes when you can.
Explore feelings with curiosity.
Listen without pushing the person to retell painful stories or put them at further risk of harm or re-traumatization.
Look for triggers that make someone feel unsafe.
Resources
In an emergency:
Call 911 if someone is in danger.
To report abuse, neglect, or theft happening to a person with a developmental disability:
Contact your local county
Call – Dial 1-800-617-6733 and select Option 1 on your mobile or home phone for the DODD Abuse and Neglect Hotline during business hours.
988 Su***de & Crisis Lifeline:
For information about calling, texting, or chatting with a 988 counselor, visit 988lifeline.org. Resources are available in English and Spanish, and services are available for people who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing.
For the Veterans Crisis Line, dial 988 then press 1. You do not have to be enrolled in Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits or healthcare to call.
