Va-LEND is excited to announce that we are recruiting our next cohort of trainees!
Ready to submit an application? Complete this form. The 2026 Va-Lend Application is also available as a fillable PDF.
Requirements for Admission: Have an undergraduate degree and Work in the field of Neurodevelopmental Disabilities, Family, or Self Advocate. OR are currently enrolled in a Masters’ or Doctoral program at VCU.
The priority due date is April 15, 2026 and the final due date is May 15, 2026.
Do you have more questions about the program? Please email valend@vcu.edu.
Learn more about what it means to be a Va-LEND Trainee in the video below!
About Va-LEND
Va-LEND is an online interdisciplinary leadership training program offered through the Partnership of People with Disabilities within the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of Education. The Va-LEND program is part of a larger network of 60 other LEND programs across the nation, which are federally funded through the Maternal and Child Health Bureau. The Va-LEND faculty represent 16 disciplines from 6 Schools at VCU and the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Longwood University.
Learn more about the three different LEND tracks here: Long-Term Academic, Long-Term Non-Academic, and Advanced Medium-Term Track. leadership, and research and includes:
- Interactive Seminars
- Clinical and Community-based experiences
- Family Mentorship Experience
- Grassroots and Systems Level Policy Activities
Learn more about the three different LEND tracks here: Long-Term Academic, Long-Term Non-Academic, and Advanced Medium-Term Track.
Long Term Academic
- Enroll in 12 credit hours of graduate classes and get a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Disability Leadership.
- Trainees must attend classes on Wednesdays from 4:30-7:00PM. With additional work during the week.
- Length of Time: 150 hours, completed in 1 or 2 academic years.
- Requirements for Admission: Have an undergraduate degree and work in the field of Neurodevelopmental Disabilities, Family, or Self Advocate. OR are currently enrolled in a Master's or Doctoral program at VCU.
Long Term Non-Academic
- Do not enroll in classes.
- Trainees have an individualized program
- Trainees work with their advisors to develop a training and clinical experience plan that yields the required number of hours.
- Length of Time: 150 hours completed in 1 or 2 academic years.
- Requirement for Admission: Work in a Va-LEND Discipline, Family, or Self Advocate.
Advanced Medium Term
- Trainees have an individualized program.
- They do not enroll in classes.
- Trainees work with their advisors to develop a training and clinical experience plan that yields the required number of hours.
- Length of Time: 150 hours completed in 1 or 2 academic years.
- Requirement for Admission: Work in a Va-LEND Discipline, Family, or Self Advocate.
We accept applicants for the following disciplines:
- Audiology
- Education/Special Education
- Family Member
- Genetic Counseling
- Law
- Medicine
- Nursing
- Nutrition
- Occupational Therapy
- Pediatric Dentistry
- Physical Therapy
- Psychology
- Public Health
- Self Advocates
- Social Work
- Speech-Language Pathology