Pathfinder's education, research & life planning center

As part of Pathfinder Village's service to humanity, an education and information center was envisioned during the village's planning phase.  Opening in 1996, today, the Kennedy•Willis Center on Down Syndrome provides resources and support to those who have Down syndrome.  The Center shares the hopeful message of the village -- "... that each life may find meaning" -- with the world.  The center has a three-fold mission of serving people through hands-on education, direct counseling, and research.

Since opening, the Kennedy•Willis Center has informed people regarding resources on Down syndrome, organized conferences and workshops, internships, life planning services, healthcare agency retreats, and one-on-one counseling sessions. It has attracted a diverse audience through conferences on the spiritual needs of the disabled, addressing problem behaviors, financial planning, and the links between Down syndrome and Alzheimer's disease. The effect of these services is already evident: letters, telephone calls, e-mail messages, program evaluations and face-to-face discussions show that the center is providing badly needed services. The center's outreach functions will continue to grow, and it will become a major avenue through which Pathfinder Village serves a worldwide audience