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UW LEND Welcomes 2026–2027 Cohort
The University of Washington Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (UW LEND) program has welcomed 34 long-term trainees for the 2026–2027 academic year. The cohort spans 16 disciplines and includes two self-advocates and four family leadership trainees.
This year, UW LEND is expanding meaningful community fieldwork placements for trainees in non-clinical disciplines. The program is working with community partners to match trainees in family leadership, self-advocacy, public health, and health administration with organizations where they can learn and contribute. These placements will provide opportunities to learn directly from people with disabilities, families, and the organizations that serve their communities while supporting trainees’ professional and leadership development.
All UW LEND trainees also participate in the Community Immersion Experience, introduced last year. Each trainee will attend an event or activity in the disability community and reflect on the experience with a faculty mentor. The program is developing a menu of events and opportunities to help trainees connect with community organizations.
Community learning is part of UW LEND’s broader interdisciplinary curriculum. Trainees participate in clinical learning, didactic instruction, community engagement, and scholarship and research opportunities. They learn alongside professionals from other disciplines, self-advocates, and family leaders while developing skills in collaboration, advocacy, and leadership.
At the beginning and end of the training year, trainees complete the Maternal and Child Health Navigator Leadership Competencies Self-Assessment. This helps them reflect on their understanding of maternal and child health leadership competencies and their growth over time. Their responses also help UW LEND identify topics to address in training.
Together, these experiences prepare trainees to contribute to their fields and communities.
Learn more about UW LEND.
