Leadership training programs gather to ‘combat autism’

George Jesien, Ph.D.

Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) programs from the Midwest region came together on the UNMC campus earlier last month for the annual consortium conference.

UNMC’s Munroe-Meyer Institute’s has one of the leading LEND programs in the country and has hosted the event for the past four years. Participants included more than 60 faculty and trainees from MMI and LEND programs from Iowa, South Dakota, Missouri and Kansas.

“The Midwest region formed a consortium to provide extra opportunities for faculty and trainees to collaborate with each other and network on joint teaching and potential research opportunities,” said Cindy Ellis, M.D., director of the MMI LEND program. “Every LEND training program has different strengths and a unique focus. This conference gives us the opportunity to exchange ideas we wouldn’t otherwise be able to share.”

Interdisciplinary training is the hallmark of LEND programs. Faculty and trainees represent 13 core academic disciplines including audiology, genetics, health administration, nursing, nutrition, occupational therapy, pediatrics, pediatric dentistry, physical therapy, psychology, social work, special education and speech-language pathology. LEND is designed to educate master’s and doctorate students as well as post-doctoral fellows pursuing careers in health care on becoming leaders in disability services and supports.

George Jesien, Ph.D., executive director of the Association of University Centers on Disabilities in the Washington area, delivered the keynote speech at the conference. His message was complimentary.

“For MMI to bring together programs from difference states just exemplifies and emulates what other programs in the country can do to have a tremendous impact on trainees careers,” Dr. Jesien said.

“For MMI to bring together programs from difference states just exemplifies and emulates what other programs in the country can do to have a tremendous impact on trainees careers.” George Jesien, Ph.D.

Dr. Jesien spoke about the impact of the Combating Autism Act of 2006, which authorized activities to increase public awareness of autism, improve the ability of health care providers to use evidence-based interventions and increase early screening for autism.

MMI’s LEND program was one of only 17 LEND programs to receive recently announced expansion dollars under the Combating Autism Act to further develop and focus autism related interdisciplinary training and continuing education.

It was an extremely competitive application process as all 34 LEND programs funded through a training grant from the federal Maternal and Child Health Bureau applied for the funding.

The 48 percent increase in funds, which amounts to an additional $200,000 to the $416,000 MMI’s LEND program currently receives, creates an opportunity to address the critical shortage of appropriately trained personnel in the field of autism spectrum and related disorders.