Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities Center

The Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) Center at Stony Brook University is a federally funded program through Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA’s) Maternal Child Health Bureau (MCHB). The LEND program works across several departments at Stony Brook University to offer an interdisciplinary approach to training providers, students, self‑advocates and families, all with the goal of improving the health of individuals with ASD or other neurodevelopmental disorders. We currently achieve this through a one-year program that includes academic, clinical and research components. We partner with clinical partners across Long Island to hold rotations and specialized workshops and lectures. Our trainees work hands-on in the community, applying their training in meaningful ways and receiving real‑world guidance from their core faculty mentors. We invite guest speakers from novel fields outside of our core disciplines to speak about their personal experience working with the disability community and perceptions within their own industry. We also hold a clinical training seminar in conjunction with our academic pieces to provide a clinical insight on specialized topics. Stipends and travel awards are given to select long-term trainees to support their time in the program. Our program continues to grow, with many alumni returning to help expand our program to further our reach. As we enter our fifth year we have trained over 2,000 trainees. Donations support the program’s mission by funding initiatives that enhance training, expand resources and strengthen services for the communities we serve.