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 |
 | Brian reaped many benefits from attending the Susan Gray School as a toddler, and began in participate in VKC research studies. One study, KidTalk, greatly supported the development of his speech. In 2nd grade he began studying at the VKC Reading Clinic, and his reading skills are what enabled the Romeo and Juliet “light bulb moment” [when his 9th grade English teacher reported he was able to summarize the plot]. Our two other children have participated in and benefited from the SibSaturdays, and our future hope for Brian is to participate in VKC’s Next Steps at Vanderbilt, an amazing college-based transition program for young adults with disabilities. Brian is just one kid and we are just one family. Can you imagine the impact for how many over the last 50 years?! Kelly M. Clippinger - Parent See More... |
| A reflection from a trainee |
 | The VKC has become a home to my family in the few short years since my daughter’s birth. We’ve benefited in countless ways from its research, professional training (I was a LEND Family Trainee), workshops, and other community programs. I also have the opportunity to learn and give back to the Center as part of the Community Advisory Council and the Public Policy Committee. The VKC has been an incredible resource to me as a parent but has also been critical in my development as a professional, helping me to become a voice for other families through special education advocacy. From both perspectives, I cannot overstate the importance of the Center’s role in creating more meaningful and productive lives for people like my daughter, and I am proud to be part of an organization that continues to lead this charge both locally and nationally. Christine Sartain - Parent, LEND Trainee, and Disability Advocate See More... |
| A reflection from a professional |
 | In my role, I assist families who have children with autism spectrum disorder. I have the opportunity each day to hear directly from families about their struggles and triumphs. Even the simplest of daily routines can be difficult for families who have children with autism. I feel lucky that families choose to share their stories with me. I also feel extremely lucky to be a part of the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center where many talented researchers are trying to determine the best interventions and treatments for the families I speak with. Daily, I listen to families, validate their concerns and feelings, and hopefully offer them a service or resources to address their needs. The Vanderbilt Kennedy Center is a true asset to these families as well as to the University, the greater Nashville community, and others who are much farther away. Nina Harris - VKC Disability Professional 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... |
Submit your reflection here