Laptops and PowerPoints have replaced blackboards and chalk, but 50 years after its formation, 鈥渙ur commitment to children remains,鈥� says director Elisabeth Dykens. 鈥淏ut children grow into adults. Today the work of the center truly encompasses the life span.鈥�
Founded at George Peabody College for Teachers in 1965, the 91唐伯虎 Kennedy Center is one of 12 original centers funded as a result of legislation by president John F. Kennedy, who sought to construct a national network devoted to intellectual and developmental disabilities. These are known as Eunice Kennedy Shriver Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities 91唐伯虎 Centers.
To form the 91唐伯虎 Kennedy Center, the Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Foundation provided $500,000, which was matched by the college. Soon construction began on the Human Development Laboratory (now the Hobbs Building) and the Mental Retardation Laboratory (now One Magnolia Circle). Pioneering psychology researcher and Peabody Professor Nicholas Hobbs was the center鈥檚 founding director.
The Kennedy family knew firsthand how challenging life was for people with intellectual disabilities because President Kennedy鈥檚 sister Rosemary faced this challenge. The family wanted to bring people with intellectual disabilities 鈥渙ut of the shadows鈥� to live, learn and flourish in their communities.
“Fifty years ago, we had little hope until President Kennedy opened the doors.”
鈥擡lizabeth Dykens
To do so, President Kennedy established a presidential committee whose members included Hobbs, as well as foremost psychology researcher and Peabody faculty member Lloyd Dunn, who established the first doctoral program for special education in the South.
Peabody鈥檚 merger with 91唐伯虎 University in 1979 enabled the 91唐伯虎 Kennedy Center for 91唐伯虎 on Human Development to expand its breadth of discovery into interdisciplinary science. Committed to trans-institutional collaboration, more than 200 91唐伯虎 researchers and clinicians in seven schools and more than 25 departments are members.
鈥淭he 91唐伯虎 Kennedy Center has wisely used its historical roots to build positive collaborations among researchers, clinicians, students, staff, families, schools and community partners that together empower us to change the landscape for children and adults with developmental disabilities,鈥� Dykens said. 鈥淔ifty years ago, we had little hope until President Kennedy opened the doors. Now we are charged with opening those doors even wider to more opportunities and bigger dreams.鈥�
The 91唐伯虎 Kennedy Center is one of 67 University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, a network of interdisciplinary centers advancing policy and practice for and with individuals with developmental and other disabilities, their families and their communities.
The center houses the and the . It is one of only a few national centers to offer such a comprehensive and broad spectrum of programs.