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 |
 | Fifty years ago my husband and I had the privilege of hearing President John F. Kennedy speak to the community at the football stadium at Vanderbilt University. It was a great day. We were proud of the University. We are both graduates and my retired husband was part of the Medical faculty for 45 years. Although we were very familiar with the University and the Medical Center, we were not as connected to the Kennedy Center until the birth of our grandson William, who has Down syndrome. He is now 17. William and his parents have received innumerable services from the Center, including hands-on intervention participating in research projects and receiving support at every step of the journey. Susan M. Spickard - Grandmother See More... |
| A reflection from a trainee |
| 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 See More... |
| A reflection from a researcher |
 | When I first came to Vanderbilt, I was heavily involved in basic questions concerning neural development. Areas where there are errors in development offer clues about typical development and function. In addition, errors in development lead to sensory, motor, and cognitive deficits that similarly offer clues about how the brain is wired to perform tasks typically. The Vanderbilt Kennedy Center was originally attractive to me in the early 1980s because it was one of the few Centers on campus concerned with neural development and one of the few places where neuroscience investigators came together. Now my research is beginning a new chapter which may move our research questions closer to those of the Kennedy Center, since the structure we have been studying, the primate pulvinar, has been implicated in such developmental brain disorders as schizophrenia, autism, and ADHD. Vivien Casagrande, Ph.D. - Cell & Developmental Biology and Psychology See More... |
| A reflection from a professional |
 | Recently a mother shared with me that over four decades ago she gave birth to a baby girl with Down syndrome. The medical staff and others strongly encouraged her to give her daughter over to an institution as it was the best option at the time. While in the hospital a social worker from the Kennedy Center discussed services and resources available to her if she chose to keep her child in her care. As a result of their conversation she decided to raise her child with the support of her family and this Center. This family is currently thriving in their community. To work somewhere that touches people’s lives on such an incredible level is an experience I am very fortunate to be part of. Sarah Harvey - VKC Disability Professional See More... |
Submit your reflection here