CT LEND is thrilled to welcome Laurie Cantwell; Brandi Simonsen, PhD; Vaishnavi Shahane, PT, MS; and Sudha Srinivasan, PT, PhD on Friday, October 31, 2025.
Laurie Cantwell is the LEND Family Faculty Discipline Coordinator. She was a 2016-2017 LEND trainee. Laurie’s advocacy is inspired by her amazing son, who has Down syndrome and autism, and her husband, who has a physical disability. On Friday, Laurie will be sharing her family story with trainees.
Brandi Simonsen, PhD, is a Professor of Special Education in the Neag School of Education at the University of Connecticut. Dr. Simonsen will be sharing a discipline perspective focused on the characteristics and goals of special education.
Vaishnavi Shahane, PT, MS, is the LEND Faculty Teaching Assistant and a Research Assistant at the UConn UCEDD. Vaishnavi will be discussing motor development and the characteristics and goals of physical therapy with LEND trainees.
Sudha Srinivasan, PT, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Physical Therapy program in the Department of Kinesiology at the University of Connecticut. Dr. Srinivasan will be sharing information about motor development and disabilities research.