Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) program

LEND Co-director Beth Mineo and 2017 LEND Cohort

Its Mission

To build greater expertise and stronger leadership among practitioners, family members, and self-advocates who support people with developmental disabilities and their families, the Delaware LEND offers integrative trainings in cultural competency and family-centered care.

Part of a national network of LEND programs, the Delaware LEND is led by the Center for Disabilities Studies and represents a collaboration between multiple UD departments, Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware State University and several other community partners. It gets its funding through the Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA) under the Autism CARES Act.

Its Focus: Training

The Delaware LEND offers short-term (under 40 hours), medium-term (40-299 hours), and long-term training experiences for students pursuing fields connected to autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities. Trainings include individual and group-based didactic and experiential activities, allowing Delaware LEND enrollees to learn from experts in the field through lectures, mentoring sessions, leadership development, observations and clinical practice.

A man in a button down shirt and slacks holds a certificate with a young woman of color.

LEND Faculty & Staff

LEND instructors have expertise and experience in one or more of the main tenets of LEND training: leadership, interdisciplinary practice, cultural/linguistic competency and family-centered care. They include self-advocates, family members of people with disabilities, clinicians, researchers, and organizational leaders from community-based settings, state/local agencies, hospitals and universities.

All LEND instructors share a passion for teaching and a dedication to establishing new generations of ASD/DD experts and leaders in Delaware.

Become a LEND Trainee

There are several pathways for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows to engage long-term training in the LEND program.

Please contact Stephanie Kaznica at skaznica@udel.edu or 302-831-3206 with any questions about the Delaware LEND.

Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) program

Its Mission

To build greater expertise and stronger leadership among practitioners who support people with developmental disabilities and their families, the Delaware LEND offers pre-professionals and professionals integrative trainings in cultural competency and family-centered care.

Part of a national network of LEND programs, the Delaware LEND is led by the Center for Disabilities Studies and represents a collaboration between multiple UD departments, Nemours/AI duPont Hospital for Children, Delaware State University and several other community partners. It gets its funding through the Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA) under the Autism CARES Act.

Its Focus: Training

The Delaware LEND offers short-term (under 40 hours), medium-term (40-299 hours), and long-term training experiences for students pursuing fields connected to autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities.

Trainings include individual and group-based didactic and experiential activities, allowing Delaware LEND enrollees to learn from experts in the field through lectures, mentoring sessions, leadership development, observations and clinical practice.

LEND Faculty & Staff

LEND instructors have expertise and experience in one or more of the main tenets of LEND training: leadership, interdisciplinary practice, cultural/linguistic competency and family-centered care.

They include self-advocates, family members of people with disabilities, clinicians, researchers, and organizational leaders from community-based settings, state/local agencies, hospitals and universities.

All LEND instructors share a passion for teaching and a dedication to establishing new generations of ASD/DD experts and leaders in Delaware.

Become a LEND Trainee

There are several pathways for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows to engage long-term training in the LEND program.

Please contact Stephanie Kaznica at skaznica@udel.edu or 302-831-3206 with any questions about the Delaware LEND.