Reflections
As part of the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center's 50th anniversary celebration, families, researchers, staff, trainees, and others shared their reflections. View a sample below, and select "more" to view additional comments.
| A reflection from a family |
 | I’ve been able to see my daughter Morgan and other young adults with disabilities achieve new goals, helping them find their purpose. VKC believes in our children’s abilities, and they are always seeking new ways to raise that bar of belief in our community. Tammy Vice - Parent See More... |
| A reflection from a researcher |
 | My interests in studying reading disabilities began when I got a job out of college working at a school for children with dyslexia. The year I spent teaching raised so many questions that I decided to go back to school and get a Ph.D. in Communications Disorders and Learning Disabilities. My research revolves around helping to improve the long-term literacy outcomes of children who struggle to develop reading skills. This focus fits well within the core mission of the Kennedy Center. Being a VKC investigator has provided me with opportunities to extend my research that would not have been possible without the relationship. I value the multidisciplinary research opportunities afforded by being a VKC member. Donald Compton, Ph.D. - Special Education See More... |
| A reflection from a trainee |
 | As a Postdoctoral Fellow, I was a trainee with LEND (Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities]. This experience was invaluable to my current work as a clinical psychologist who specializes in diagnosing very young children with autism. My LEND training enhanced my abilities to understand families’ perspectives, to collaborate across disciplines, and to maintain cultural competence, all of which helps me provide better care to children and parents at a very difficult moment in their lives. Amy Weitlauf - VKC Member and Former LEND Trainee See More... |
| A reflection from a professional |
| As a teacher and now as Director of Special Education in Manchester City Schools, I feel very fortunate to have received training from Vanderbilt Kennedy Center TRIAD myself. It helped me better serve my students with this challenging disorder. Now as our district administrator, I strongly encourage and support training opportunities for the teachers in our school system. This year alone over 50% of our special education teachers and/or assistants were involved in a training activity through TRIAD. The quality of this training is unsurpassed. In addition to the sessions offered at regional locations, our district was fortunate to have consultation and training provided on-site at our schools. I do not believe training of this quality and type is available anywhere else and even if it was, it would not be affordable for our school district. Our teachers are better prepared due to the training they received through TRIAD. However, the most important aspect is that our students receive the greatest benefit. Jenny Thomas - Director of Special Education, Manchester City Schools, Manchester, TN See More... |
Submit your reflection here