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Administration for Children and Families US Department of Health and Human Services

American Flag With Eagle
September 11, 2001 Tragedy
Important Information for The Public                                                              Updated 10/24/2001 horizontal line

INFORMATION LINKS


HHS Responds-Helping America Heal (how to help, how to get help, American Liberty Project, news & speeches, fact sheets on public health, photos & more)

Letters from First Lady Laura Bush:
To Elementary School Students
To Middle & High School Students



HELP FOR CHILDREN:

Coping With Disaster: Suggestions for Helping Children With Cognitive Disabilities: English Version | Spanish | Chinese (PDF) | Vietnamese (PDF) |

Each of us will live with the memory of the violence and horror of September 11. We are all struggling to understand the scope of this tragedy. Here is some information about what to expect and some strategies for use with children with mental retardation, autism, or other disabilities affecting learning, communication, and understanding. This guide provides information about:

  • How very young children, school-age children, and adolescents react to disaster and what to expect
  • General strategies that parents and educators can use to promote coping
  • Specific strategies for children with unique needs
  • Therapeutic approaches to traumatic stress
  • Resources on coping with disaster

    NOTE: For an abbreviated version of the Guide, (in English only) see Helping Children with Cognitive Disabilities Cope with Disaster

Helping Children Handle Anxiety Related to September 11 Events - Depending on their age, understanding and development, children will respond to tragic events in different ways. However, an event like that which occured on September 11 can create a great sense of anxiety in even very young children because they may interpret the disaster as a personal danger to themselves and those they care about. At this site you will find suggestions for helping children handle anxiety related to the recent tragedy.