JACKSON TWP — Children with intellectual or developmental disabilities are far more likely to experience emotional, physical or sexual abuse than other children, and it’s up to school professionals to notice abuse signs and intervene before it’s too late.

Nearly 100 school nurses from Western Pennsylvania heard that message at Seneca Valley High School Monday to talk shop and to listen at the seminar about student safety in schools.

Carly Frisk, a specialist with the Milestone HCQU West agency in Butler, spoke at the seminar. She covers nine counties, working with children who have behavioral and developmental disabilities.

Each child Frisk comes across has a different story and different set of circumstances. However, she said almost every one of them has something in common.

“There’s been some form of trauma in their lives,” Frisk said.

She added an unfortunate truth when she provided statistics that show cases of emotional, physical and sexual abuse skyrocket when a child has a learning or development disability.

To make that worse, Frisk said, those children often don’t report the abuse for a myriad of reasons. That means it’s up to professionals to step in and notice the warning signs when a child becomes withdrawn.

But whatever happens, it’s up to school counselors and nurses to listen and nurture.

“Never judge people,” she said. “You need to be there, for them, in a supportive and safe environment.”

That message resonated with Aaron Pellicano, who is a school counselor in the Avonworth School District in Allegheny County.

Pellicano was one of the few professionals in attendance who isn’t a nurse. But that doesn’t mean he didn’t take away important lessons from the event.

“We’re all an important part of the team,” Pellicano said. “This is a wonderful approach to get all the support staff together and to formulate a plan.”

Linda Starosta, a nurse at the Evans City Elementary and Middle schools, said the nursing symposium was designed just for that reason, to bring together professionals from the region to talk about the best nursing practices around.

“We have almost 100 people here today,” she said, adding that it’s important for those people to bounce ideas off each other.

Nurses Anita Miklos and Lauren Rusinko came from the Norwin School District in Westmoreland County.

According to Rusinko, the drive was worth her time as she gleaned new information from experts

“Something like this helps us to better identify problematic behaviors,” she said. “And that is something we can take back to our home districts.”

Seneca Valley Superintendent Tracy Vitale said the nursing symposium is a crucial tool to help professionals in school settings better help the students they come in contact with every day.

“Students coming to school prepared to learn starts with their mental and physical well-being,” she said.

Vitale also thanked Seneca Valley’s nursing professionals for organizing the annual event.

“I am most proud that they go the extra mile in planning, hosting and bringing together other school nurses to our campus for a day of learning and engagement,” she said.