I have had a 21-year personal relationship with those who have special needs [because of our son, adopted at birth]. I do not know what my husband and I, both eggheads, would have done without the practical and research-based wisdom of the VKC. Nicholas’s first VKC program was TRIAD, a place where we all learned how to live with structure, what to attend to, what to let go. We also learned that we were not alone and that the professionals at VKC were actively working to make my family’s and other families’ lives better. That matters when your child is nothing like any other child you know. But my child could do more….The VKC has showed us how another way is possible. That our children can and will have another way.

Robbie Pinter - Parent

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I am the proud parent of four young children, one of whom has Down syndrome. Besides benefiting from their vast array of supports and services, I am currently receiving valuable research experience as a doctoral student in special education and receiving specialized disability-specific training through the VKC.

Thomas Boehm - Parent, Doctoral Student in Special Education, and VKC UCEDD Trainee

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I spent most of my graduate training learning about the development of very young children who had experienced serious life stressors. This focus on early social and emotional development was matched with opportunities to work with young children with autism during my fellowship. Since then, I have worked with young families concerned that their child may have autism. It is a challenging and powerful experience to try to provide families with answers to questions regarding autism and other developmental concerns. This represents an opportunity to understand how we can join with families to create systems of care of meaning and value. My continued attraction to the VKC is linked to center’s ability to help form partnerships among researchers, clinicians, educators, and families in a manner that truly impacts communities. The ability to collaborate and work alongside leading scientific experts in behavior, education, genetics, and neuroscience who share a focus on pushing science of impact and meaning is so very fulfilling. Increasingly I have been able to intersect with the powerful training programs (i.e., LEND, UCEDD, TRIAD) supported through our Center that provide exceptional training to our next generation of scientific and clinical leaders. In my experience, few places are capable of bringing together current and future leaders in the field of developmental disabilities in such powerful ways.

Zachary Warren, Ph.D. - Pediatrics, Psychiatry, and Special Education

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[The VKC] is an absolutely amazing place to work, but more importantly, people here truly help to change lives for the better. I’ve worked here in some capacity since I graduated from the Master’s of Special Education program in 2007, and I cannot think of a better place to refer families who have a loved one with a disability. In my own work, we are helping high school students with autism and their families prepare for the transition from high school, and we are also helping faith communities as they support people with disabilities to find and hold employment.

Jenny Gustafson - Special Education Alumna and VKC Disability Professional

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