About LEND
The Louisiana Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LA LEND) is a nine-month (300+ hour) interdisciplinary leadership training program for graduate students, individuals with developmental or neurodevelopmental disabilities, parents/guardians, and practicing professionals.
Financial stipends are available!
LEND improves your knowledge and skills related to:
Leadership
Neurodevelopmental Disabilities
Social Determinants of Health
Policy & Advocacy
Life Course Theory
Interdisciplinary Thinking
Family-Centered Practice
Early Identification
LEND Components
Through interdisciplinary training, mentorship, and research, trainees gain the skills to make a meaningful impact across health, education, and advocacy.
MCH Foundations
LEND scholars participate in a week-long intensive introduction to the historical and theoretical underpinnings of Maternal and Child Health (MCH) programs, including Social Determinants of Health, Family-Centered Care, Cultural Competence, Interdisciplinary Teaming, and more.
These topics establish a framework for the Louisiana LEND program.
Seminars in MCH Topics and Leadership Development
Scholars learn about issues and best practices related to ASD/NDD and experience a variety of clinic- and community-based activities that provide deeper understanding and opportunities to observe and/or implement things learned in class.
Family Mentoring Experience (FME)
Scholars are matched with mentor families of children with disabilities who provide scholars with opportunities to engage with the families' everyday life to gain understanding of the "lived experience." Scholars complete a service learning project for the family based on identified needs.
Independent and Group Projects
These projects include Research activities related to ASD/NDD or other disabilities and a Leadership project related to disability services, policy, advocacy, research, or systems change.
Clinical and Field Experiences
Louisiana LEND assignments are embedded with clinical and community experiences designed to provide opportunities for application and reflection.
Paid Travel to Association for University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) Conference
Each fall, LEND scholars attend the 3-day AUCD conference in Washington, D.C. to connect with the other programs in the AUCD network. LA LEND is 1 of 60 LEND programs across the country.
Who should apply to LEND?
Graduate Students and Practicing Professionals
Graduate students and practicing professionals interested in becoming leaders in fields related to healthcare, special education, neurodevelopmental disabilities, and related areas.
Self-Advocates and Family Members
Self-advocates and family members of individuals with disabilities interested in becoming better informed leaders and more effective advocates.
Too often professionals and parents do things to just get by, thereby perpetuating the status quo. If we are going to move the disability community forward, it's imperative that we do so with the highest standards and I believe LEND supports that.
