Va-LEND is a interdisciplinary leadership training project 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 52 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.
The interdisciplinary program provides 12-24 months of interactive seminars, clinical and community-based practice, planned community grassroots, and systems level policy activities, and a family mentorship experience. The curriculum emphasizes all aspects of neurodevelopmental and related disabilities, social and family environments across the life course, the interdisciplinary approach, leadership, and research and includes:
- Interactive Seminars
- Clinical and Community-based experiences
- Family Mentorship Experience
- Grassroots and Systems Level Policy Activities
The program can be completed in 1 or 2 academic years.
Applicants have the option to choose from three different tracks (Long-Term Academic, Long-Term Non-Academic, and Advanced Medium-Term Track based on their experiences and leadership goals.
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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