New Iowa LEND Trainees have a Capital Time at the Iowa State Capitol

October 3, 2016

On Thursday, August 18th the Center for Disabilities and Development, Iowa's University Center for Excellence on Disabilities, welcomed the Iowa LEND (ILEND) trainees for 2016-2017. Orientation began with a brief welcome by Lenore Holte, ILEND Program Director, followed by faculty, staff and trainee introductions. The group of trainees and staff members then traveled to Des Moines to tour the state capitol building and to learn about state and federal legislation related to individuals with disabilities.

The ILEND trainees have been going to the state capitol as part of their Orientation for the past four years. The trip provides an opportunity for the students to bond with their ILEND cohort, which helps create an open and engaged environment for the program's biweekly seminars and serves as a prelude to the state and federal policy instruction that is a key component of the ILEND leadership education.

The capitol tour culminated in a visit to the Iowa Secretary of State's office. Three trainees who were not yet registered to vote in Iowa were offered the unique opportunity to register on top of the case holding the original 1857 Iowa Constitution.

The 2016-2017 ILEND cohort consists of 21 trainees in 10 disciplines: Audiology, Health Administration, Physical Therapy, Psychology, Public Health, Speech-Language Pathology, Social Work, Family, Pediatric Dentistry, and Geriatric Dentistry.