“If you’re the first generation to go to college, sometimes you don’t
realize your potential until others point it out.”
– Dr. Rachel Aiello, Ph.D. in school psychology, ‘13
around research with other departments as well as
with trainees.”
She was also involved in parent and sibling
workshops for children with ASD along with a
local inclusive soccer program, TopSoccer. Aiello
is completing her post-doctoral fellowship at
Vanderbilt University, where her responsibilities
involve diagnostic assessment of young children at
risk for ASD, educator professional development
training, and assisting on various research studies.
“I really enjoy these multiple roles in serving
families of children with ASD and providing
community supports for ASD, so I am hoping that
my future career path will allow me to continue to
work within academic medicine,” Aiello said.
Aiello tells people she does not know a life without
autism. Her brother, who has autism, is by and large
the most interesting person she has had the pleasure
to know and she finds so much joy when she thinks
of him.
“I hope families are able to find that in their own
children with ASD,” she said. “It’s important to
remember that the child you see in front of you
today will continue to grow, develop new abilities,
and discover more talents regardless of diagnosis. I
also always encourage families to do what is realistic
for them and for their child.” «
The Taylor Education Building
glowed in blue lights in April
when the University of Kentucky’s
Student Council for Exceptional
Children hosted a “Light it up
Blue” event for autism awareness.
Several iconic landmarks around
the globe – including the Empire
State Building in New York City
and the Opera House in Sydney,
Australia, as well as universities,
museums, concert halls,
restaurants, hospitals and retail
stores — light up in blue each
year to honor the first night of
Autism Awareness Month.
In 2013 UK’s Memorial Hall was
the first reported building in
Kentucky to participate in the
global event.
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