Kristin Berg is an an Assistant Director at the University of South Dakota UCEDD and SD LEND Training Director. Prior to that, she served as an assistant professor in the College of Public Health at Temple University and as the LEND Self Advocate/Research Co-Director at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Kristin received both her A.M. (M.S.W. equivalent) and Ph.D. in Social Work from the University of Chicago, School of Social Service Administration. Her dissertation was one of the first studies to document the victimization experiences of youth with disabilities in the child welfare system (CWS) and its impact upon mental health and participation in community activities. As an assistant professor at Temple University, Dr. Berg secured grant funding to supplement her dissertation findings with additional complex survey analysis. As principle investigator (PI) on a Health Resources & Services Administration grant, (Family Adversity and Health Disparities for Children with Autism)Kristin examined the intersection of early childhood adversity and service access disparities among youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Her findings revealed that youth with ASD are at high risk of adverse childhood experiences (ACE) that are linked with delayed access to early childhood supports and services. In coordination with her research activities, Kristin has been involved with targeted program innovations to improve access to and quality of services for individuals with disabilities through her involvement in: the Interdisciplinary Faculty Council on Disability; National CARES 2018 Planning Committee, the National LEND Workgroup on People with Disabilities in Training Programs; the South Dakota Brain Injury Alliance and other programs/activities.