The Connecticut Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (CT LEND) is one of 60 LEND programs across the country that focuses on the training of future leaders from a wide variety of professional disciplines in order to improve the health care delivery system for children with autism and other neurodevelopmental disabilities. The CT LEND provides training to graduate students from audiology, nursing, psychology, public health, school psychology, social work, special education, speech language and hearing science. Self-advocates, family members and community members also participate in one year of course work, community practicum assignments, advocacy and research. The training program requires the completion of coursework (9 credit hours), research studies, advocacy projects and community practicum assignments with infants, children and youth and adults with developmental disabilities, including autism, and their families, for over 700 hours a year.
