Project Description:
Nationally, there is a need for more highly qualified professionals who have knowledge and
experience in the use of evidence-based practices to meet the complex needs of infants, children, and adolescents with neurodevelopmental and other related disabilities, including autism (ASD/DD). Michigan shares this need and also has a number of unique regional and local needs related to geographic, demographic, and economic factors. Major metropolitan areas of Michigan (e.g., Detroit and Flint), have culturally-diverse populations and profound concentrations of families living in poverty. Large regions of the state, particularly the Upper Peninsula and the northern half of the Lower Peninsula, are rural and sparsely populated, affording families limited access to needed diagnostic and treatment services. With a population of more than 9.9 million people, Michigan is the 10th largest state in the U.S. and the largest state that does not have an existing LEND program. The proposed MI-LEND (My LEND) program is a consortium of six universities (Wayne State University, Michigan State University, University of Michigan, Western Michigan University, Central Michigan University, and University of Michigan-Dearborn) that spans the state and serves in excess of 181,800
undergraduate, graduate, and professional students. MI-LEND will work in collaboration with Michigans Title V program (Childrens Special Health Care Services), the Governors Autism Council, the Michigan Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, and other key statewide disability/advocacy organizations. As such, the MI-LEND program is poised to significantly expand interdisciplinary leadership training opportunities for graduate-level trainees from a wide variety of professional disciplines. MI-LENDs purpose is to address the complex needs of those with ASD/DD by:
1. Increasing the number of graduate/doctoral/postdoctoral students, family members, and
individuals with disabilities prepared to address these needs;
2. Increasing the number of providers available to diagnose and treat these needs;
3. Enhancing the clinical expertise and leadership skills of practicing professionals to
address these needs; and
4. Ensuring integration of family-centered perspectives into every level of the program
including curriculum development, training, and program evaluation.
The MI-LEND curriculum will integrate L.I.F.E. (Leadership, Interdisciplinary, Family-Centered, and Equity) perspectives into all program activities to prepare graduate-level trainees
to assume leadership positions in academia, clinical practice, public service, and advocacy
organizations centered on ASD/DD. During the five-year program, a minimum of 85 long-term
MI-LEND trainees will each complete at least 300 hours of combined didactic, clinical,
community, and leadership activities. MI-LEND will also train an additional 200 medium-term
and 1,500 short-term trainees over the project period. MI-LEND will provide continuing
education workshops, seminars, and distance learning activities at local, state, regional, and
national levels. Workshops, professional meetings, and publications in professional journals are
the vehicles for dissemination of program products. A comprehensive evaluation plan with
performance measurement data will be used to assess both process and outcome components.
Core Function(s):
Training Trainees, Performing Direct and/or Demonstration Services, Performing Research or Evaluation, Developing & Disseminating Information, Continuing Education/Community Training, Other Direct/Model Services, Demonstration Services
Target Audience:
Students/Trainees (long or intermediate trainees), Community Trainees / Short term trainees, Professionals and Para-Professionals, Family Members/Caregivers, Adults with Disabilities, Children/Adolescents with Disabilities/SHCN, Legislators/Policy Makers, General Public
Unserved or Under-served Populations:
Racial or Ethnic Minorities, Disadvantaged Circumstances, Geographic Areas
