Message from the Director

From the Director:

The Mailman Center for Child Development opened its doors in January of 1971, with its formal dedication on March 22, 1971. As we approach the 50^th anniversary of the Mailman Center, it is timely to recall the words of Abraham Mailman, whose philanthropic support along with his brother Joseph Mailman made the Mailman Center a reality. “Speaking of millions, what about the six million children who already need centers such as this? Already, in this center, children who have grown up hanging their head are learning now to look up.”

This simple statement of Mr. Mailman’s view of the mission of the Mailman Center has been sustained for these 50 years, even though the methods to carry it out have changed and the needs have become more complex. The tent of developmental disabilities has expanded to include genetic conditions, prematurity, serious or chronic illnesses, early traumatic exposures, environmental exposures, and multiple social determinants of health. Our vision statement, Improving lives through innovation, impact, and connection, drives us to constantly create and evaluate innovative strategies to address challenges that children and their families face and, as these are developed, find ways to disseminate these innovations to community partners. Our commitment to the intersection of disability and diversity drives us to work inside the walls of the Mailman Center to drive innovative thought, conduct research, and train future leaders so that we can go beyond our walls to support and assist in building the capacity of the communities where children with disabilities and their families live.

At no time has our vision and mission been more relevant than during the COVID-19 pandemic. Forced to find effective ways to provide developmental, health, and education services to children who could not be seen in person, our faculty and staff quickly transitioned to a telehealth platform, developed innovative ways to conduct evaluations and provide intervention, and trained providers in the community (as well as parents) how to take advantage of services in a virtual world. Our partnerships with The Children’s Trust and its programs, as well as our partner communities in Overtown and East Little Havana, have helped bring these innovations to communities that have limited resources and special challenges. We have developed web-based training programs for health care providers working with individuals with disabilities during COVID, created web-based cartoons to assist families and children with critical tasks like mask-wearing and social distancing, and worked on national policies related to return to school decision-making and protecting rights of individuals with disabilities in the face of restricted medical resources. Most importantly, all of these activities have emphasized improving lives outside the Mailman Center in South Florida, the state, and the nation.

The Mailman Center remains committed to the early vision of Abraham and Joseph Mailman, with an emphasis on driving innovation that has impact far beyond our walls. This is a vision that was on-target in 1971, and should carry us through the next 50 years.

Daniel Armstrong, Ph.D.
Director, Mailman Center for Child Development