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 |
 | It is through the VKC that I caught the vision and was inspired to follow my daughter with autism’s North Star—that of a life-long pursuit and successful career in art. Leisa Hammett - 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 |
| 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 See More... |
| A reflection from a researcher |
 | We began our careers as general education classroom teachers, where we struggled to address the needs of students with learning disabilities. This motivated us to work hard over the years to provide general and special education teachers with methods that can help them address the needs of these students more effectively. We believe in the mission of the VKC, which includes fostering collaborative relationships among investigators from different disciplines. Lynn Fuchs, Ph.D., and Doug Fuchs, Ph.D. - Special Education See More... |
Submit your reflection here