Leadership Education in
Neurodevelopmental and
related Disabilities (LEND)
Training Program
The Cincinnati LEND Program is part of a national network of 60 Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and related Disabilities (LEND) programs across the country, funded by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau of the federal government. LEND programs share the same overall mission of improving the health of infants, children and adolescents with, or at risk for, neurodevelopmental and related disabilities including autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). A major focus of LEND is to increase the number of professionals with the knowledge and skills to provide evidence-based screening, diagnosis and treatment of developmental disabilities, including ASD.
The Cincinnati LEND program is affiliated with The University of Cincinnati and operates within Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC). This collaboration provides the program with expert faculty, facilities and other resources necessary to provide exceptional interdisciplinary training and services. LEND trainees come from over 12 disciplines and include family members of children with disabilities and people with lived experience.
Program Description:
The Cincinnati LEND curriculum provides over 300 hours of instruction over the course of the academic year and consists of five components.
Leadership Seminar: provides knowledge in crucial areas focused on leadership competencies.
Interdisciplinary Training Team: provides an opportunity to serve on an interdisciplinary team and complete disciplinary evaluations of children suspected of possible developmental disabilities.
Core Course: focuses on key areas including life-course perspective, social determinants of health, health care disparities, medical home, and policy and advocacy issues.
Seminar in Evidence-Based Methods: allows trainees to participate in a team-based, faculty-led interdisciplinary project focused on various evidence-based processes including examining applied research questions, program needs assessment, policy development and more.
Disciplinary Clinical Experiences: are completed in state-of-the-art clinics within CCHMC and are designed to meet the specific training requirements of each discipline.
Cincinnati LEND trainees:
- Show a demonstrated interest in working with individuals with disabilities and their families.
- Show promise to become leaders in clinical practice, teaching, research, advocacy, policymaking or program administration.
Graduate-level students and post-graduate fellows participate in the LEND program from a variety of healthcare fields and community-based professions.
Individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities, as well as family members of children with developmental disabilities, serve as trainees and participate fully in the curriculum.
Trainees must have the ability to participate in full-day LEND sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays from August through April.
Trainees also require at least one of the following:
- Enrolled in a graduate or post-graduate training program in a LEND discipline*
- Practicing professional in a LEND discipline*
- Family members of individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities
- Individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities
*See apply page for listing of disciplines
Why Cincinnati LEND training?
Cincinnati LEND graduates are culturally responsive, family-centered interdisciplinary leaders who improve the health and quality of life for individuals with developmental disabilities.
Graduates of the Cincinnati LEND program have made an impact by serving as:
- Prominent researchers
- Clinical providers
- Leaders of national, state, regional and local organizations and agencies
- Chairs of academic departments
- Faculty members
- Policy makers
- Division directors
- LEND Program Directors and Training Directors