Trainees & Early Career Professionals
AUCD encourages trainees to be involved in the national network of LEND, UCEDD, and IDDRC programs and has created a number of opportunities for trainee involvement.
An AUCD Trainee is any individual who is enrolled in one of AUCD's LEND, UCEDD, or IDDRC programs. A trainee might be an undergraduate, graduate, or doctoral student in a discipline such as audiology or social work; a trainee might be a fellow in pediatrics or psychology; a trainee might be a research assistant working on a genetic disorder or a family member learning about leadership. All trainees have a common desire to continue learning about helping and working with individuals with developmental disabilities and their families.
There are over 4,000 AUCD trainees enrolled in the nation's LEND, UCEDD, and IDDRC programs. By being a trainee at an AUCD-member program, individuals are also members of AUCD. These AUCD trainees form a network and can learn from each other by discussing and sharing their common interests and unique experiences.
Are you an AUCD trainee?
As you begin your journey with AUCD, these three Trainee Orientation Modules will help you learn, connect, get involved, and grow as part of the network. Each includes videos and links to related resources. They were created with input and support from a range of leaders, including recent trainees. The information is sequenced so you can gradually build your understanding, but feel free to jump in wherever and whenever you are ready to start!
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Trainee & Early Career Professional News
7/16/2021
29 MN LEND Fellows Complete Year
Capping a year of learning and interacting almost entirely online, the 29 graduates of MN LEND certificate program recently closed out their final ceremony with messages from Minnesota's lieutenant governor, state senators from both political parties, a former MN LEND fellow, and others.
7/15/2021
All in the Family: Salma Hussein (MN LEND, 2012-13)
Salma Hussein (MN LEND, 2012-13), recently selected as a 2021 Bush Fellow, will use the $100,000 fellowship to complete her doctorate degree in educational leadership and continue the non-profit organization she runs with her sister, Fatimah, the Girls Initiative in Recreation and Leisurely Sport (GIRLS). Trained as a social worker while attending MN LEND, she is now an assistant principal at a Saint Paul, Minnesota high school.
4/28/2021
A Fellow's Perspective: Virtual Opportunities through Rochester LEND's Collaborations in Central America
It has been more than a year since we started adapting to the "new conditions" of living in a world with the COVID-19 pandemic. Transitioning from face-to-face to all-virtual interactions was not as much fun as the option of "working and studying from the bedroom" sounded. Not only did we start missing familiar faces, but we had to limit new relationships to connections traveling through router devices and Zoom platforms. Despite these limitations, the pandemic has triggered a virtual realm of opportunity. It has challenged our creativity and our passion to keep pursuing the visions and missions we sought out in "normal" times. It invited us to think outside the box and has extended connectivity and networking beyond local boundaries. The 2021 LEND cohort has experienced this firsthand.
Past Trainee Events
2021 AUCD Emerging Leaders End of the Year Webinar
Friday, May 7, 20214:00 - 5:00 pm ET
Location: Zoom Webinar
Join AUCD's Emerging Leaders Interns, Kiki Oyetunji and Jessica Huddleston, to celebrate the end of the academic year! Trainees can expect to learn how to use their training experience to achieve professional growth. The Interns will also cover the importance of staying connected to AUCD and the Emerging Leaders Community.
Social Media: An Essential Tool in the Democratization of Knowledge Dissemination and Engagement
Friday, March 26, 20212:00 - 3:00pm ET
Location: Zoom Webinar
Social media has a track record of spreading misinformation, yet it can also be one of the most democratic resources we have. The open-access format can reach many in the disability community and enable their voices to be heard, which mainstream media cannot do. The webinar will take a practical approach, highlighting how social media can amplify the voices and knowledge of our community for broader dissemination and engagement.
Join the Trainee listserve to discuss issues related to your training.
