Presentation and discussion of research posters and leadership presentations herald the end of the Va-LEND program for the academic year at Virginia Commonwealth University. They are typically lively events marked by discussion, acknowledgement of trainee achievements, and fellowship. This year was very different due to the commonwealth's response to COVID-19 and need to socially distance.

The U.S. Department of Education's Office of Postsecondary Education, Higher Education Programs is currently recruiting peer reviewers to evaluate applications for the fiscal year (FY) 2020 Model Comprehensive Transition and Postsecondary Programs for Students with Intellectual Disabilities (TPSID) program.

Karen Millman, LEND Family Partnership Training Coordinator/LEND Family Faculty, at the Westchester Institute for Human Development, in partnership with Jeanne Wilson, M.D. Course Director, "Foundations of Clinical Medicine", at New York Medical College held a 'virtual' joint training session on 4/22, for first-year medical school students. The session is typically held every year in-person, in the Spring, on the campus of NYMC, but due to COVID-19, this year the session was held via Zoom.

The Munroe-Meyer Institute University Center of Excellence for Developmental Disabilities program (MMI UCEDD) has hosted Disability Leadership training series across the state, including the communities of Omaha, Scottsbluff, Norfolk, Kearney and Grand Island. This training series is a partnership between UNMC Munroe-Meyer Institute University Center of Excellence for Developmental Disabilities Program and several Nebraska disabilities programs; in addition, it has been funded by the Nebraska Council on Developmental Disabilities.

The MN LEND Fellows at the Institute on Community Integration shared stories of how their work is being impacted by the pandemic.

There was a call for action - and Kansas LEND trainees responded. As a statewide Stay at Home Order was announced in Kansas in response to the novel coronavirus outbreak, Kansas LEND trainees were quick to create and disseminate resources for Kansans with disabilities and their families.

Four NC-LEND students from the Doctor of Audiology (AuD) program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill received an award for �best poster' at the national 2020 Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) conference in Kansas City, Missouri, in March. The ongoing project, which is focused on improving hearing screening in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), is a collaboration between NC-LEND and the North Carolina EHDI program, NC Division of Public Health.

On February 9th and 10th twelve SD LEND Trainees traveled to South Dakota's state capitol Pierre to observe policy in action. Dr. Marni Johnson Martin, SD LEND Training Director, states, "I am thrilled we are able to offer this opportunity to our LEND trainees as it gives them real-world experience with the legislative process. I feel they came away from the experience much more vested in the process and understand how truly important their voices are. I hope someday I will have the honor and privilege of voting for one of our trainees when they run for office."

Hosting a film series and discussions exploring cultural responses to autism. Asking families what services they need most. Evaluating and expanding a promising mentoring program.

The Riley Child Development Center's LEND is partnering with Indiana's Part C program, First Steps, and infant mental health association, Infancy Onward, to offer free online reflective practice opportunities beginning this week. The groups are facilitated by RCDC-LEND faculty and regional partners who are infant mental health specialists