David E. Nathanson, B.A., M.S., Ph.D.

President & Founder

David E. Nathanson, Ph.D. is a licensed psychologist with more than 35 years  experience in research and work with special needs populations and dolphins.   Dr. Dave is a retired full professor from the State University System of Florida (Florida International University).  He has written dozens of professional articles in books and journals.  His Ph.D. is from the University of Minnesota.   Dr. Dave has always believed in being “optimistically realistic” about helping people with disabilities reach their full potential.

In the 1970’s, on a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, Dr. Dave traveled throughout Florida teaching disabled people to write poetry.  He also produced and directed Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, with a cast of institutionalized mentally and physically handicapped actors.  He produced the first City of Miami Very Special Arts Festival.

In the 1980’s, he co-founded the Achilles Track Club South, a running club for disabled athletes.  During his thinner years, Dr. Dave trained and ran with his friend Scott Wagner, believed to be the first and, perhaps, only Down syndrome runner to ever complete a 26.2-mile marathon.  Scott and Dr. Dave ran the Boston, New York City, and Los Angeles marathons.

“We want to help children with disabilities reach their full potential.  That means we need to recognize they have a right to participate in everything available to all people.  That’s the optimistic part.  The realistic part is that compassion has to be mixed in with the acquisition of skills such as walking and talking.  Then, each child must develop the confidence that he/she can continue to improve.

Those skills and that confidence are developed through hard work and direction provided by dedicated, experienced rehabilitation professionals, motivated parents…and sometimes unusual helpers like dolphins.”