I will never forget the moment I learned my son had autism—the fear, the confusion, the helplessness—how could I ever learn all I would need to know to raise this precious little person who experiences the world in ways I can’t imagine? The Families First program at the VKC was there from the beginning—educating, supporting, and encouraging us. And they were there three years later when I lived that moment a second time, the day I learned my daughter had autism—ready to help in every way they could.

Elizabeth Stivers - Parent

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My interest in studying developmental disabilities arose from both my work and my educational experiences. Throughout college and graduate school, I worked as a teacher of children with severe to profound disabilities. Simultaneously in my Ph.D. program, I was learning about children’s development, mother-child interactions, and families of typically developing children. As a postdoctoral fellow, I began to join these two worlds. I began exploring how theories, approaches, and findings derived from work on typically developing children might apply to children with developmental disabilities. I also began examining with Elisabeth Dykens how children with particular genetic disorders differed in their behavioral development, and how behaviors of children with particular syndromes might affect their family members. The VKC combines a strongly held, multidisciplinary focus with a rock-solid commitment to children with disabilities and their families. In addition to the researchers themselves, a skilled, dedicated group of VKC staff help everyone to get things done. With support from several private foundations and federal agencies, the VKC has expanded services to persons with disabilities and their families. Where else can one work every day with such a talented, committed group of scientists, staff, and service providers, all of whom share a mission to learn about and to serve individuals with disabilities and their families?

Robert Hodapp, Ph.D. - Special Education

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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

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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

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