Training the Next Generation of Leaders in ASD (WA LEND)
May 20, 2016
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As autism spectrum disorder (ASD) becomes the fastest growing developmental disability in the United States, with a diagnosis rate of 1 in 68 individuals, there is a growing need for quality training programs to help prepare the next generation of professionals to support children and families with this heterogeneous and complex neurodevelopmental disorder.
The LEND training program at CHDD is among those at the forefront. LEND stands for Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities, and it is part of a network of programs supported by the federal Maternal and Child Health Bureau and based at the CHDD's University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities. It is a hands-on, interdisciplinary training program that prepares professionals for leadership roles in the field of ASD and related developmental disabilities. One third of LEND graduates go on to work primarily in the field of autism, many achieving leadership positions.
