LEND Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities

2023

The Minnesota LEND Leadership Training Program (MNLEND) at the University of Minnesota (UMN) is designed to improve the health/well being of children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and their families through the preparation of competent professionals who can provide comprehensive care, serve as advocates, conduct applied research, and provide local, regional and national leadership in NDD/ASD. There is a severe and growing workforce shortage of ASD/IDD-trained professionals across all areas of disability-related health and allied health disciplines. An especially acute shortage in the MCH workforce for rural or remote regions of the state, and high need for a culturally and linguistically competent workforce for the growing IBPOC and immigrant and refugee disability communities who face access and service equity gaps in the state. To accomplish this goal, the MN LEND provides intensive interdisciplinary training through methods including: 1) interdisciplinary training sessions for future practitioners and family and self-advocates; 2) practicum experiences in university and community clinics, public schools, IBPOC and immigrant/refugee advocacy groups, and early childhood, public health, and transition age sites 3) clinical scholarship and mentorship of trainees through research engagement and 4) opportunities for providing technical assistance to Title V and other MCH and adult community providers to support children/adults with ASD/IDD. Our current and proposed program goals are consistent with the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) leadership competencies, Healthy People 2030, and Autism Cares Act (ACA) goals. MNLEND brings together exemplary faculty (including people with disabilities, and paid family members of people with disabilities and self-advocates who act as faculty on the MNLEND Leadership Team and in the Families and Advocates as Teachers initiative of MNLEND) representing 14+ disciplines. The University Center on Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) - Institute on Community Integration and campus MCH partners collaborate to prepare MNLEND and other MCH trainees in MN and beyond to assume leadership roles and ensure high levels of interdisciplinary clinical and leadership competence in ASD/IDD. MNLEND collaborates with communities, health professionals, the state agencies, and other MCH and Title V funded programs focused on serving the health, educational, and employment needs of persons with ASD/IDD in Minnesota and beyond.

Training, Education, Autism, Neurodevelopmental, Minnesota

Training Trainees, Performing Research or Evaluation, Developing & Disseminating Information, Continuing Education/Community Training

Quality Assurance, Education & Early Intervention, Child Care-Related Activities, Health-Related Activities, Employment-Related Activities, Housing-Related Activities, Transportation-Related Activities, Recreation-Related Activities, Quality of Life, Other - Assistive Technology, Other - Cultural Diversity, Other - Leadership, Other

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

Racial or Ethnic Minorities, Disadvantaged Circumstances, Limited English, Geographic Areas, Rural/Remote, Urban, Specific Groups

Single-County, Mulit-County, State, Regional, National, International

Federal

N/A