Unspoken Struggles: Navigating Trauma, ADHD, Autism, and Sensory Needs in Families

Breakout Session

Unspoken Struggles: Navigating Trauma, ADHD, Autism, and Sensory Needs in Families

Speaker(s):

Shelby Czarnick

Date, time, and room location:

Breakout Session B
Date & Time:
Tue, Jun 16, 2026 | 12:40 - 1:40pm CDT
This is a repeat session.
Breakout Session D
Date & Time:
Tue, Jun 16, 2026 | 3:30 - 4:30pm CDT

Session overview

Track:

Early Childhood Services

Audience level: 

Enhanced

Intended audience:

All

Session materials: 

This session does not have any session materials currently.

Session Description

In this session, we’ll break down the walls that keep families trapped in the vicious cycle of trauma, ADHD, autism, and sensory overload. The voices of these families—often silenced by a system that fails to understand them—will finally be heard. From being the infant to becoming the sibling, these children are carrying more than they should, and it’s time we listen to their unspoken truths.

Trauma doesn’t show up neatly in a textbook. It twists itself into behaviors that could be ADHD, autism, or both—leaving professionals and families stuck in confusion. Today, we’re going to decode those symptoms and separate the noise from the real issues.

But it’s not just about the kid—it’s about the whole family. We’re going beyond clinical labels and digging into the trauma that’s impacting everyone. You’ll get strategies that help you connect with families stuck in survival mode and start creating real change.

If you’re tired of treating symptoms and want to actually help people break free from the trauma trap, this session is for you. Get ready to challenge everything you thought you knew and take away practical tools that will help you make a real difference.

Learning objectives

  1.  Analyze the intersection of trauma, ADHD, autism, and sensory issues to differentiate overlapping symptoms and develop targeted interventions.
  2. Evaluate family dynamics within the context of trauma, moving beyond textbook symptoms to assess the holistic impact on all members
  3. Apply strategies to build connections with families and implement interventions that address both trauma and neurodivergence in a supportive, integrated way