By: Courtney Taylor
The Vanderbilt Kennedy Center welcomed Tennessee Congressional staff members based in Tennessee district/state offices for a lunch and informative review of the Center’s research, services, and training programs and activities. Presentations were designed to equip Congressional staff with information and resources at Vanderbilt that they need to have on hand when contacted by their constituents with disabilities and families who have questions about disability services and supports in Tennessee.
Elisabeth Dykens, Ph.D., Annette Schaffer Eskind Chair and director of the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, provided an overview of the Center. Megan Hart, M.Ed., program director of Tennessee Disability Pathfinder, oriented them to the Pathfinder database of disability resources. She also shared case studies as a way to showcase the types of support that Pathfinder and the Multicultural Outreach Program offer to the individuals and families.
Pablo Juarez, M.Ed., BCBA, associate director of the Treatment and Research Institute for Autism Spectrum Disorders (TRIAD), informed staffers about autism-related research and services. He also highlighted partnerships that TRIAD has forged with local arts and education community programs like The Nashville Zoo and Cheekwood to foster inclusion of families with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Tammy Day, M.Ed., program director, Next Steps at Vanderbilt, concluded the program by educating the visitors on the VKC’s innovative and collaborative work as it relates to secondary transition, postsecondary education, and employment.
The day-long visit to Vanderbilt was hosted by the Vanderbilt Office of Federal Relations. In addition to the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, staff met with Jeff Balser, M.D., Ph.D., Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs and Dean of the School of Medicine; toured Vanderbilt LifeFlight; and visited the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Bill Wilkerson Center, Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital, as well as other people and programs of interest.
“We were so pleased with the information our visitors received from the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center,” said Christina West, assistant vice chancellor for Federal Relations. “In fact, several of them commented how impressed they were with the type and breadth of work done at the Center. One staffer specifically said she would share what she learned with her colleagues and thought it would be particularly useful as they try to assist constituents. She indicated that, in the future, they would direct constituents to the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center or Tennessee Disability Pathfinder.”
Click here to read the MyVU article pertaining to the congressional staff visit.
Last Updated: 7/1/2014 11:17:57 AM
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