Louisiana LEND Scholars Recognized with Allied Health Honors

Louisiana's UCEDD, LSUHSC Human Development Center, is proud to see Louisiana LEND scholars receive honors from the LSU Health Sciences Center School of Allied Health Professions as they completed their respective programs on May 19th.

Four Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) TRIAD Practices Accepted into AMCHP Innovations Hub; One selected as award-winner

Four best practices emerging from the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center's (TN IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) Treatment and Research Institute for Autism Spectrum Disorders (VKC TRIAD) were accepted into the Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs (AMCHP) Innovations Hub Database. The Hub is an online platform that provides maternal and child health professionals and advocates with a variety of resources, including a searchable repository of "what's working" in the maternal and child health field.

The Center for Autism and Related Disorders at Kennedy Krieger Institute Kicks off Meaningful Conversations with Autistic Self-Advocates

The Center for Autism and Related Disorders at Kennedy Krieger Institute kicked off monthly Meaningful Conversations with autistic self-advocates on June 8, 2022. In the inaugural session, our guest was Ms. Katelyn Szymanski. Ms. Szymanski is a Behavior Associate at Itineris in Baltimore, MD, and has just completed undergraduate training in social work.

Successful Grant Submission to AIR-P

Dr. Calliope Holingue and Ms. Margaret (Maggie) Johnson received an "AIR-P Scholars & Pilot and Feasibility grant" for their submission titled "Recommendations for Improving Gastrointestinal Health among Autistic Adults: A Qualitative Community-Based Participatory Study". Calliope Holingue is an assistant professor at Kennedy Krieger Institute and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Maggie Johnson is a traveling nurse, currently based in Atlanta, Georgia, who will be starting her PhD at Emory School of Nursing this fall.

The University of Cincinnati UCCEDD Vision Read on Ohio Senate Floor

The University of Cincinnati Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCCEDD)'s vision was read on the Ohio Senate floor on May 25. Senator Antonio referenced our vision as she encouraged the Senate to pass SB202 Prohibiting discrimination on the basis of disability in parenting.

Retiring Va-LEND Faculty Member Leaves with a Song

By Jennifer Drummond

During her time at Va-LEND, Power-deFur shared a couple of her fondest memories which included working with Va-LEND's interdisciplinary clinics, which are a core part of the curriculum at Va-LEND and the collaborative discussions during the in-person faculty meetings. Working with Hayes E. Willis Health Center, of Richmond, we frequently worked with Spanish interpreters/brokers and relied on their input to develop a meaningful plan.

WI LEND Celebrates 10 Years of Welcoming Disability Advocates

Wisconsin's Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (WI LEND) program is proud to celebrate the tenth anniversary of graduating disability advocates as LEND trainees! WI LEND offers interdisciplinary and leadership training to over 30 trainees a year across more than a dozen disciplines, including disability advocates (persons with a developmental disability) and family (family members of a person with a developmental disability).

MN LEND Fellow Teaches People with IDD to Write Their Stories

Cow Tipping Press founder Bryan Boyce (MNLEND, 2020-21) recently wrapped another series of the organization's writing courses for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), bringing the cumulative number of students served to nearly 600. Through networking conversations with fellow MNLEND alumni, Boyce has begun offering courses beyond Minnesota's borders, a result of the surge in interest for online learning due to the pandemic. Most of the coursework can be completed online, but the Cow Tipping team goes on location at the end to present published books featuring students' work and celebrate the experience.

LEND Capstone Poster Session and Celebration

On May 6, 2022, 17 trainees from the 2021-2022 NH-ME LEND program shared their scholarship and leadership development during the annual Capstone Poster Session and Celebration. The trainees' posters showcased their leadership development through community placements in settings that included state agencies, community health providers, advocacy organizations, and partners in each state's developmental disabilities network. The opening remarks were provided by Will Clyde, Associate Dean of the UNH Graduate School, followed by NH-ME LEND Program Director Betsy Humphreys. Congratulations to the graduates!

AIR-B Network's Conference on Inclusion for Students with ASD

The academic and community partners of the Autism Intervention Research Network on Behavioral Health (AIR-B Network; PI: Kasari) gathered virtually in March and April for their 8th annual community conference on autism. Titled Optimizing School & Community Inclusion for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders