By Noah Baptiste
Through the rise of podcasting and online media in today’s digital age, Kennedy Krieger Institute has embraced the opportunity to extend its impact on families, educators, advocates and other professionals beyond traditional care settings. By offering a monthly podcast—Your Child’s Brain—and a quarterly webinar series—Exploring the Brain—the Institute is expanding access to expert insights on pediatric brain health and development and related topics.
In 2021, with assistance from WYPR-FM, a public radio station in Baltimore, Kennedy Krieger President and CEO Dr. Bradley L. Schlaggar led the creation of Your Child’s Brain to provide meaningful conversations about neurodevelopmental disabilities to the broader community.
“Kennedy Krieger’s depth and breadth of expertise is truly astonishing, and we wanted accessible, plain-language, public-facing ways to share that,” Dr. Schlaggar says.
Kennedy Krieger launched Exploring the Brain the next year to offer a deeper dive into neurodevelopmental disabilities, education, advocacy and related topics with Kennedy Krieger experts. “In a world flooded with information from countless sources, Exploring the Brain offers vetted, reliable insights, and even gives the audience a chance to engage directly with our panelists,” Dr. Schlaggar explains.
Both platforms feature Dr. Schlaggar and a wide range of experts from across the Institute. Bringing their conversations to the public has aided Kennedy Krieger in demystifying conditions that are commonly misunderstood and overlooked, and in helping families understand how to optimize education and access to available resources.
We’re shaping communities where families feel supported.” – Linda Prudente
“By having conversations that normalize differences and reduce stigmas, we’re shaping communities where families feel supported,” says Linda Prudente, Kennedy Krieger’s former (and recently retired) assistant vice president of marketing and communications, who was instrumental in promoting and coordinating episodes of Your Child’s Brain. “When people understand the reasons behind a child’s behavior or learning style, they’re more likely to respond with empathy rather than judgment.”
Community members have also made significant contributions to the platforms. Parents of children with neurodevelopmental disorders frequently appear on Your Child’s Brain. When family members’ voices are amplified, listeners gain a stronger understanding of neurodevelopmental disorders and their impact on everyday life, Prudente says.
The platforms’ inclusion of diverse perspectives transforms information into valuable advice, explains Maureen van Stone, director of the Maryland Center for Developmental Disabilities at Kennedy Krieger. Van Stone has made appearances on both platforms.
“These platforms cultivate collaboration,” she says, “by bringing professionals and community members together to exchange ideas, share expertise and address key issues shaping the field of disability advocacy.”