Ruth Brown, PhD, is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and Assistant Professor at Virginia Commonwealth University. She has worked closely with families and self-advocates with Down syndrome for over 10 years to better understand mental health needs and improve care for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Dr. Brown’s research focuses on helping individuals with Down syndrome who are dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, or trauma. She created Thriving, a free online training that teaches caregivers and professionals how to recognize signs of trauma and support healing in adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Her goal is to make mental health care more compassionate, accessible, and responsive to the real-life experiences of individuals with Down syndrome and those who love them.