Thank You to the CT LEND Class of 2025-2026!
The University of Connecticut Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and related Disabilities (CT LEND) program is a one-year interdisciplinary leadership training program for persons with disabilities, family members, practicing professionals and graduate students at UConn and other Connecticut universities.
CT LEND is one of 60 LEND programs across the country that focus on training future leaders from a wide variety of professional disciplines to improve quality of life outcomes for children, youth, and adults with neurodevelopmental disabilities, including autism.
The training program requires the completion of coursework, research studies, advocacy projects, and community practicum assignments with infants, children, and youth with developmental disabilities.
LEND Seminar 4
The Connecticut LEND Seminar 4 on September 25, 2026, focuses on Self Knowledge and Self Care. This seminar will provide trainees with opportunities for learning, discussion, self-reflection, and professional growth. Participants will begin with reading groups and a large group discussion before exploring True Colors and How Your Personality Traits Affect Your Life and Leadership, presented by Darla Gundler of the UConn UCEDD. This interactive session will help participants better understand their personal and professional strengths, communication styles, and approaches to leadership.
The afternoon will feature Research on Mind-Body-Health Connections: Tools and Practice for Faculty and Students, Now and the Future, presented by Melissa Bray, PhD, Chair of School Psychology at UConn’s Neag School of Education, and Cheryl Maykel, PhD, Associate Professor in the Counseling and School Psychology Program at Rivier University. Participants will learn about research-based strategies and practical tools that can support health and well-being in their personal, academic, and professional lives.
