It's unclear how these conditions would affect a child's
response to trauma, Raison said. There is not enough research to
support a generalization about how any given child with these
conditions would likely react to situation such as Ethan's.
Regardless, it's important for any child who has been through
trauma to return to normal routines, said Anna McConnell, state
autism coordinator in Alabama. Having a daily routine is
especially important with autism spectrum disorders generally,
she said. Children with these diagnoses tend to find comfort in
consistency and familiarity. "Get the child back to the things
that they loved and enjoyed," said Elana Newman, professor of
psychology at the University of Tulsa. Separations and reunions
may be difficult after experiencing this kind of trauma, she
said, which involved a child being isolated from one's
community. There are several kinds of therapy that have been
shown to be effective in helping children through traumatic
situations. They include trauma-focused cogn