Potential Online

Cerebral Palsy

If one were to choose the qualities that a young woman might best rely upon for the journey into adulthood, those qualities might be self assurance, polish and grace - comprising the definition of "poise." Liza Patchel exudes poise in all she does - at home, in college and in her community where she works as a Red Cross volunteer.

Traumatic Brain Injury

For many 12-year-olds, meeting a room full of strangers is intimidating. But not for Mark, who sees such occasions as new opportunities to win over a crowd. Once a promising young performer, Mark hasn't been able to sing, dance, or act since last summer, when he suffered a traumatic brain injury in a Jet-Ski accident. But true charisma knows no physical limitations. When Mark enters a room, he shines.

Down syndrome

Melissa is completely at home under the bright lights of a stage, and that's a good thing since she's a professional magician. She and her father Jay perform side by side across the country, and one of their favorite acts tells a story of transformation and compassion.

Special Education

This summer, I accomplished a dream that few people thought was possible. I was able to walk across the stage to get my high school diploma and then walk down the aisle with my graduating class at Kennedy Krieger High School. Looking out in the crowd to see my mom and friends and teachers standing and clapping for me--it was a moment I'll never forget.

The playground is a symbol of childhood, a dream of brightly colored slides and ladders, merry-go-rounds and swings. But for some children, like Aidan Gaiser, playgrounds don’t hold the promise of fun. When Aidan was a toddler, he would hover at the edge of the playground, not sure how to play.

His hesitation was a sign of a bigger issue. For his age, Aidan seemed like most children. He knew about seven words, he responded when someone said his name, and he was developing very typically. But then he started to regress, and at 22 months old, he was diagnosed with autism.

Autism

When Addie Chason was born her parents had big dreams for her future and before long their tiny home seemed too small to contain them. When Addie was 16-months-old, the Chasons found a larger home that seemed just the right place for Addie to grow. It had a yard, a neighborhood full of kids, and a top-notch school nearby.

Festival of Trees is Right Around the Corner

The 18th annual Kennedy Krieger Institute Festival of Trees will be held November 23-25 in the Cow Palace at the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium. This three-day event is an exciting holiday-themed festival held to raise funds for the research, treatment, education, and community programs of the Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimnore.