Kennedy Krieger Institute
Encyclopedia
The Kennedy Krieger Institute is an internationally recognized organization improving the lives of children and adolescents with learning disabilities
, disorders of the brain, spinal cord, and musculoskeletal system. Founded in 1937 and located in Baltimore, Maryland, Kennedy Krieger serves patients through inpatient and outpatient clinics, home and community services, and school-based programs. The Institute provides services for children with developmental concerns mild to severe, and is home to a team of investigators who are contributing to the understanding of how disorders develop while pioneering new interventions and earlier diagnosis.
Kennedy Krieger Institute is a nonprofit medical, educational and research corporation chartered as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization under IRS regulations.
. Dr. Phelps founded the Children's Rehabilitation Institute, the first treatment facility in the country dedicated solely to children with cerebral palsy. The Institute was renamed the Kennedy Institute in 1968 in memory of President John F. Kennedy who enacted the Medical Training Act during his administration, to protect the rights and improve the lives of persons with disabilities. In 1992, the name was changed again to Kennedy Krieger to honor original board member and long-time supporter, Zanvyl Krieger.
Since it opened, Kennedy Krieger Institute has evolved into an international resource for children with diverse brain-related disorders, from mild learning disabilities to rare genetic disorders. Today, patients and families visit Kennedy Krieger to receive expert medical care, schooling, and the benefits of cutting edge research that have improved patient outcomes thanks to discoveries made and treatments implemented at the Institute.
The institute received a $1.5 million grant in early 2010 to perform brain cancer research.
The institute's expertise in the diagnose and treatment of autism
is nationally recognized and its president, Gary Goldstein, is an oft-cited authority. Kennedy Krieger runs the Interactive Autism Network, an online national autism registry, launched in 2007.
known for his role in all three Superman movies, was thrown from his horse and landed headfirst into a fence shattering his first and second vertebrae. Reeve’s cervical spinal injury paralyzed him from the neck down. Reeve sought the aid of Dr. John McDonald, who was working at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. After extensive activity-based therapies,Reeve's was able to wiggle his toes and move a couple fingers. Christopher Reeve died in 2004, however his achievements shined light on everyone affected by spinal cord injuries. Dr. McDonald left St. Louis and officially opened the International Center for Spinal Cord Injury (ICSCI) at Kennedy Krieger Institute on June 14, 2005. ICSCI is one of the first centers to have a focus specifically on children with chronic spinal cord injuries and paralysis. The center utilizes innovative activity-based therapies such as FES cycling, aquatic therapy, and partial weight supported walking to help patients regain sensation and feeling in their bodies. The center combines clinical research with a focus on restoration and rehabilitation for children and adults with chronic paralysis.
The Kennedy Krieger Lower/Middle School located at the Fairmount campus in Baltimore serves students in grades pre-K through 8. The school’s preschool is a full day program focusing on the core deficits of autism for children ages 3–5. Students in the elementary and middle grades are carefully grouped for instruction that is aligned with national standards and guided by the Maryland Voluntary State Curriculum.
The Kennedy Krieger High School is a special education day program on the Greenspring campus in Baltimore, serving more than 200 students aged 14–21. The children come from many Maryland school districts, the District of Columbia and from neighboring states to enroll in either 10 or 11 month programs. Industry training and work-based learning is emphasized for all students, who can graduate with either a Maryland high school diploma or a certificate of completion.
The Kennedy Krieger School LEAP Program (Life skills and Education for Students with Autism and other Pervasive Behavioral Challenges) serves students with sever autism in a 12 month day program. LEAP consists of 65 students in 10 different classrooms and it has a supportive 1:1 staff to student ratio.
The Montgomery County campus of Kennedy Krieger School opened in 2007 and primarily serves students with autism spectrum disorders. Students in grades 3-8 are on a high school diploma track, while students aged 11–21 can work towards a certificate of completion.
Learning disability
Learning disability is a classification including several disorders in which a person has difficulty learning in a typical manner, usually caused by an unknown factor or factors...
, disorders of the brain, spinal cord, and musculoskeletal system. Founded in 1937 and located in Baltimore, Maryland, Kennedy Krieger serves patients through inpatient and outpatient clinics, home and community services, and school-based programs. The Institute provides services for children with developmental concerns mild to severe, and is home to a team of investigators who are contributing to the understanding of how disorders develop while pioneering new interventions and earlier diagnosis.
Kennedy Krieger Institute is a nonprofit medical, educational and research corporation chartered as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization under IRS regulations.
History/Mission
Kennedy Krieger Institute opened its doors in 1937 when Winthrop Phelps, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon from Baltimore, responded to a dire need for treatment for individuals with cerebral palsyCerebral palsy
Cerebral palsy is an umbrella term encompassing a group of non-progressive, non-contagious motor conditions that cause physical disability in human development, chiefly in the various areas of body movement....
. Dr. Phelps founded the Children's Rehabilitation Institute, the first treatment facility in the country dedicated solely to children with cerebral palsy. The Institute was renamed the Kennedy Institute in 1968 in memory of President John F. Kennedy who enacted the Medical Training Act during his administration, to protect the rights and improve the lives of persons with disabilities. In 1992, the name was changed again to Kennedy Krieger to honor original board member and long-time supporter, Zanvyl Krieger.
Since it opened, Kennedy Krieger Institute has evolved into an international resource for children with diverse brain-related disorders, from mild learning disabilities to rare genetic disorders. Today, patients and families visit Kennedy Krieger to receive expert medical care, schooling, and the benefits of cutting edge research that have improved patient outcomes thanks to discoveries made and treatments implemented at the Institute.
Patient Care
Kennedy Krieger treats more than 16,000 children annually. The Institute practices early identification, intervention, and treatment of disabilities to maximize potential and to prevent major problems throughout a child's life. Kennedy Krieger brings all the disciplines to bear-science, medicine, therapy- on the problems and injuries that affect a child's development. The Institute's interdisciplinary approach brings together a team of professionals from various fields and departments to create treatment plans tailored to the special needs of each child throughout all stages of care.Research
Kennedy Krieger scientists research to prevent and cure pediatric neurological disorders, spinal cord injuries and developmental disabilities. The Institute’s work has yielded answers that are improving the treatment and care of children with diseases such as autism, cerebral palsy and spina bifida. A team of international scientists and investigators at Kennedy Krieger is working to isolate culprit genes and develop new treatment models and therapies. The institute has a swift transfer of research to patient care.The institute received a $1.5 million grant in early 2010 to perform brain cancer research.
Special Education
Kennedy Krieger is a nationally recognized Blue Ribbon School of Excellence and a leader in providing model programs of innovative education for children ages 3 to 21 in three day-school settings and in partnership settings within public schools. The Department of Special Education teaches children with a wide range of learning, emotional, physical, neurological, and developmental disabilities.Community Programs
At Kennedy Krieger, the faculty and staff advance the treatment of developmental disabilities only by sharing knowledge with individuals and organizations throughout the local communities, across the country, and around the world. In order to help all individuals with developmental disabilities achieve their full potential, Kennedy Krieger works to increase the community’s knowledge and understanding. The cornerstone of these efforts is the Maryland Center for Developmental Disabilities at Kennedy Krieger Institute. The Center focuses on professional training, community service, research, and information dissemination.Professional Training
In addition to the other core areas of focus, Kennedy Krieger also provides training opportunitites to increase the number of qualified specialists in the field of neurological and developmental disabilities. Each year, more than 400 individuals come to Kennedy Krieger to train with renowned experts in many fields from audiology to pediatrics, and nursing to occupational and physical therapy. The Institute is also fundsthe training of the next generation of researchers.Adrenoleukodystrophy ALD
Adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) is a rare genetic disorder of the brain that occurs only in males. The fatal condition destroys the nervous system, often leaving the victim unable to walk, see and hear. For many years ALD took the lives of many and continues to do so today. In 1987, Augusto and Michaela Odone, parents of a child affected by ALD, invented Lorenzo’s oil as a treatment for the disease. Their story was in the 1992 Universal Studios motion picture, Lorenzo's Oil, starring Nick Nolte and Susan Sarandon. Dr. Hugo Moser, a renowned scientist at Kennedy Krieger Institute, joined forces with the Odone's, ultimately proving that their treatment, Lorenzo's Oil can prevent the onset of ALD if begun before neurological symptoms appear. Moser and colleagues also created the first diagnostic test for ALD, as well as a newborn screening test that can detect the disease from birth. On January 20, 2007 Dr. Hugo Moser died of complications from surgery to treat pancreatic cancer. Today, Dr. Moser's wife Ann B. Moser, continues this important work at Kennedy Krieger. In 2008, she helped to launch a pilot study to screen for ALD in 5000 newborns born in local Baltimore hospitals, the results of which will be used to advocate for nationwide newborn screening for this devastating disorder.Autism
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are a large focus of the Institute’s research and clinical programs. Autism is typically diagnosed by age three, however the Institute’s research is focused on detecting signs of the disorder even earlier. One of the pioneers of autism research today is Dr. Rebecca Landa, Director of the Center for Autism & Related Disorders at Kennedy Krieger. Landa has discovered that some babies begin to show risk factors for autism as early as 14 months of age. Her work also focuses on developing early intervention models for toddlers with autism that help to improve a child’s social, language, and cognitive skills.The institute's expertise in the diagnose and treatment of autism
Autism
Autism is a disorder of neural development characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior. These signs all begin before a child is three years old. Autism affects information processing in the brain by altering how nerve cells and their...
is nationally recognized and its president, Gary Goldstein, is an oft-cited authority. Kennedy Krieger runs the Interactive Autism Network, an online national autism registry, launched in 2007.
Spinal Cord Injury (SCI)
Spinal cord injury (SCI) causes damage to nerve roots and fibers that carry messages to and from the brain. Spinal cord injuries can result from physical trauma, tumors, developmental disorders or a number of different diseases. In 1995, Christopher ReeveChristopher Reeve
Christopher D'Olier Reeve was an American actor, film director, producer, screenwriter, author and activist...
known for his role in all three Superman movies, was thrown from his horse and landed headfirst into a fence shattering his first and second vertebrae. Reeve’s cervical spinal injury paralyzed him from the neck down. Reeve sought the aid of Dr. John McDonald, who was working at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. After extensive activity-based therapies,Reeve's was able to wiggle his toes and move a couple fingers. Christopher Reeve died in 2004, however his achievements shined light on everyone affected by spinal cord injuries. Dr. McDonald left St. Louis and officially opened the International Center for Spinal Cord Injury (ICSCI) at Kennedy Krieger Institute on June 14, 2005. ICSCI is one of the first centers to have a focus specifically on children with chronic spinal cord injuries and paralysis. The center utilizes innovative activity-based therapies such as FES cycling, aquatic therapy, and partial weight supported walking to help patients regain sensation and feeling in their bodies. The center combines clinical research with a focus on restoration and rehabilitation for children and adults with chronic paralysis.
Schooling/Special Education
- Kennedy Krieger Lower/Middle School
The Kennedy Krieger Lower/Middle School located at the Fairmount campus in Baltimore serves students in grades pre-K through 8. The school’s preschool is a full day program focusing on the core deficits of autism for children ages 3–5. Students in the elementary and middle grades are carefully grouped for instruction that is aligned with national standards and guided by the Maryland Voluntary State Curriculum.
- Kennedy Krieger High School (KKHS)
The Kennedy Krieger High School is a special education day program on the Greenspring campus in Baltimore, serving more than 200 students aged 14–21. The children come from many Maryland school districts, the District of Columbia and from neighboring states to enroll in either 10 or 11 month programs. Industry training and work-based learning is emphasized for all students, who can graduate with either a Maryland high school diploma or a certificate of completion.
- Kennedy Krieger School LEAP Program
The Kennedy Krieger School LEAP Program (Life skills and Education for Students with Autism and other Pervasive Behavioral Challenges) serves students with sever autism in a 12 month day program. LEAP consists of 65 students in 10 different classrooms and it has a supportive 1:1 staff to student ratio.
- Montgomery County campus
The Montgomery County campus of Kennedy Krieger School opened in 2007 and primarily serves students with autism spectrum disorders. Students in grades 3-8 are on a high school diploma track, while students aged 11–21 can work towards a certificate of completion.
Frequently Seen Diagnoses
- AutismAutismAutism is a disorder of neural development characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior. These signs all begin before a child is three years old. Autism affects information processing in the brain by altering how nerve cells and their...
Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) - Behavioral disorders
- Bone disorders
- Brain injuryBrain injuryA brain injury is any injury occurring in the brain of a living organism. Brain injuries can be classified along several dimensions. Primary and secondary brain injury are ways to classify the injury processes that occur in brain injury, while focal and diffuse brain injury are ways to classify...
- Cerebral palsyCerebral palsyCerebral palsy is an umbrella term encompassing a group of non-progressive, non-contagious motor conditions that cause physical disability in human development, chiefly in the various areas of body movement....
- Down syndromeDown syndromeDown syndrome, or Down's syndrome, trisomy 21, is a chromosomal condition caused by the presence of all or part of an extra 21st chromosome. It is named after John Langdon Down, the British physician who described the syndrome in 1866. The condition was clinically described earlier in the 19th...
- Feeding disorders
- Intellectual disabilities
- Learning disabilities
- Mental health disorders
- Metabolic disorders
- Muscular disorders
- Neurodevelopmental disabilities
- Seizure disorders
- Spina bifidaSpina bifidaSpina bifida is a developmental congenital disorder caused by the incomplete closing of the embryonic neural tube. Some vertebrae overlying the spinal cord are not fully formed and remain unfused and open. If the opening is large enough, this allows a portion of the spinal cord to protrude through...
- Spinal cord injurySpinal cord injuryA spinal cord injury refers to any injury to the spinal cord that is caused by trauma instead of disease. Depending on where the spinal cord and nerve roots are damaged, the symptoms can vary widely, from pain to paralysis to incontinence...
and paralysisParalysisParalysis is loss of muscle function for one or more muscles. Paralysis can be accompanied by a loss of feeling in the affected area if there is sensory damage as well as motor. A study conducted by the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, suggests that about 1 in 50 people have been diagnosed... - Sturge-Weber syndromeSturge-Weber syndromeSturge–Weber syndrome, sometimes referred to as encephalotrigeminal angiomatosis, is a rare congenital neurological and skin disorder. It is one of the phakomatoses and is often associated with port-wine stains of the face, glaucoma, seizures, mental retardation, and ipsilateral leptomeningeal...
President/CEO's
- Dr. Gary Goldstein (1988–present)
- Dr. Hugo Moser (1976–1988)
- Dr. Matthew Debuskey (1975–1976)
- Dr. Robert Haslam (1970–1975)
- Dr. Frederick Richardson (1967–1969)
- Dr. Winthrop Phelps (1937–1967)