Still wonder what the LEND fellowship can do for you? Reach out if you have questions about our program, and we’ll make sure you get the answers you need.
Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities
A Statewide Interdisciplinary Training Prorgam
The Illinois Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) program prepares you to serve as a leader in improving the quality of life of children and families with neurodevelopmental disabilities, with a focus on autism.
An interdiscipinary experience
Stats and Facts
What is LEND?
What it's like to be a LEND trainee
Our trainees regularly post on our blog and share their experiences
See what we're up to »
See what we're up to »
Who is a LEND trainee?
Whether you’re a graduate student, working professional, family member or self-advocate, you can be a LEND trainee
Your individual background and experiences offer unique perspectives on disability and help your fellow trainees gain a deeper understanding of each person’s role. With advanced interdisciplinary training, you’ll develop the skills in disability advocacy, research, community engagement and clinical settings that you need to promote positive change on all levels. LEND does this through:
- Didactic and experiential learning
- Clinical instruction
- Leadership development
- Policy and advocacy training
- Community outreach
- Individual tailored mentorship
Our disciplines
IL LEND brings together trainees across 15 disciplines to learn from each other. We prepare this diverse group to assume leadership roles in their respective fields.
- Behavior Analysis and Therapy
- Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics
- Disability Studies
- Family
- Nursing
- Nutrition
- Occupational Therapy
- Physical Therapy
- Psychology
- Psychiatry
- Public Health
- Self-Advocacy
- Social Work
- Special Education
- Speech-Language Pathology
One of the first programs with a self-advocacy discipline
Self-advocacy
As trainees, self-advocates bring the disability point of view. They help give perspective in seeing the person, not the diagnosis, and help other trainees learn how to interact with people with disabilities. In LEND, self-advocates learn the medical point of view about disability and the different parts of being diagnosed, improving their ability to partner with professionals.
Your career
LEND gives you the tools to advance and benefit your career regardless of your discipline or background. You’ll come out of the program with the skills to foster community-based partnerships, and integrate services between organizations, private providers and communities. As a trained leader, you’ll be prepared to promote innovative practices and improve healthcare delivery for children with developmental disabilities in any field.
You’ll also become part of the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD), a national network of university-based interdisciplinary programs.
Meet our partners
The IL LEND Program is housed in the Department of Disability and Human Development at the University of Illinois at Chicago and has community and academic partners throughout the state.
Connect with us
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How to Apply to LEND
Ready to apply to the Illinois LEND program? Click on the link and find out how easy it is.
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Contact Illinois LEND
Contact us and let us know your questions about the Illinois LEND program.
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Read our Illinois LEND blog
Do you want to know what it's like to be in the Illinois LEND program and how it can further your goals? Read our blog by our trainees.
Contact us
We're here for you
You can contact Janine Salameh at:
Funding
The Illinois LEND Program is funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services—Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Grant Number: T73MC11047-09-00