On Decmeber 5th,  CT LEND is excited to welcome several distinguished presenters!

We’ll hear from Jason Fogler, PhD (Harvard Medical School), who will discuss trauma and disability, including how to recognize signs of trauma and support individuals with disabilities through informed, compassionate strategies.

Michael Gamel McCormick, PhD, Policy Specialist with the U.S. Senate, will provide an important update on federal developments.

Jeff Hines, MD, UConn’s Vice President for Inclusion and Civil Rights, will join us to share leadership insights on navigating challenging times and promoting equity across systems.

We are also honored to welcome Brenda and Sean Stenglein, who will share their family’s story and their experiences.

We look forward to an inspiring and meaningful week of learning with these outstanding guests!

On Friday, November 21st, CT LEND is thrilled to welcome presenters Dr. Melissa Bray, Dr. Sara Renzulli, and Denzel Closs.

Dr. Bray and Dr. Renzulli will share with trainees the characteristics and goals of school psychology, looking in depth at the roles played by both school psychologists and school counselors. Trainees will also learn about the IEP/IFSP and 504 process, specifically looking at how each of these practices plays a part in the team.

Denzel Closs, self-advocate, will share his personal story.

To learn more about each presenter, check out the short interviews they took part in during the 2024-25 LEND program.

Melissa Bray LEND Interview

Sara Renzulli LEND Interview

This Friday, November 14, Mimi Snyder, PhD, MSN, RN, Steven M. Lepowsky, DDS will present their discipline perspectives to CT LEND trainees. Chris Blake will share his personal story.

Dr. Snyder, a nursing professor with 38 years of experience in acute care, community, and public health, will share insights on nursing care for children and adults with disabilities.

Dr. Lepowsky, Dean of the UConn School of Dental Medicine, will discuss the importance of oral health care and how tactile sensitivities, pain awareness, and communication challenges impact dental treatment for children with ASD.

Chris Blake, CT LEND Self-Advocate Faculty, will share his personal story with trainees.

On November 7th, CT LEND is honored to welcome Tammie Spaulding, PhD, Kathy Cienkowski, PhD, and Paula DeMichiel as our guest presenters.

Tammie Spaulding, PhD, studies the nature, identification, and outcomes of young children, adolescents, and adults with Specific Language Impairment. Dr. Spaulding’s research program is designed to enhance the evidence base behind our clinical decision-making. In her presentation, Discipline Perspective: Characteristics and Goals of Speech and Hearing, Dr. Spaulding will bring her expertise in assessment and executive functioning in children with language impairment.

Kathy Cienkowski, PhD, studies speech perception for hearing-impaired listeners with an emphasis on aging adults and their use of hearing aids to improve speech understanding. She is currently investigating the benefits of AR among adults with acquired hearing loss and will share her knowledge on early hearing detection and deafness.

Paula DeMichiel, our own LEND Administrative Program Manager, will share her family story with our trainees.