Month: November 2025

CT LEND Welcomes Mimi Snyder PhD, MSN, RN; Steven M. Leposwky, DDS; and Chris Blake

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.

CT LEND Welcomes Tammie Spaulding, PhD, Kathy Cienkowski, PhD, and Paula DeMichiel!

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.