About The Vanderbilt Kennedy Center

What We Do

research, services, training, and community arrows circle across one another.

Who We Are

About Our Networks and Affiliaties

The Vanderbilt Kennedy Center is complex and includes three major federally funded disability programs. It collaborates with and is made up of organizations on national, state and institutional levels.

History

The Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Research on Education and Human Development was one of twelve original members of a national network of Mental Retardation Research Centers created by the Kennedy administration in 1963.

Mission

Our mission is to improve the quality of life of persons with disorders caused by the disruption of typical development. We support and apply scientific research to bring better services and training to the community.

Quick Facts

A quick view of the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center includes total number of investigators, affiliated schools, programs, research projects, grants, and more.

What is a developmental disability?

A developmental disability is a condition that is significant and ongoing, begins before age 22, and substantially limits functioning in daily activities of living.

Examples of developmental disabilities include autism, brain injury, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, fetal alcohol syndrome, intellectual disabilities (mental retardation), Prader-Willi syndrome, spina bifida, and Williams syndrome.

(The Vanderbilt Kennedy Center serves persons with developmental disabilities and their families, as well as persons with all types of disabilities, including those whose disabilities occur after age 22.)

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