Leadership Opportunities

UW LEND trainees complete an applied research or public health technical assistance project and present results or products at the annual UW LEND Leadership and Research Symposium.

Link to more detail on the UW LEND Leadership Project

A guiding principle for all UW LEND clinical, didactic and leadership training is attention to culturally and linguistically, person-/family-centered practices responsive to the diversity of the ASD/DD population. UW LEND trainees have an opportunity to examine their own implicit biases and equity-based clinical practices as well as systems and policies impacting systemic racism and social determinants of health inequity. Trainees may participate in UW LEND quality improvement efforts addressing equity and inclusion within the program. Opportunities available to participate in UW LEND pipeline programs to mentor undergraduates from underrepresented populations who are interested in a health or MCH career. Trainees may participate in UW LEND Equity Book Group.

LEND curriculum centers the lived experience voice and perspective in all learning content. Trainees participate in discussion sessions moderated by family and self-advocates and may have opportunities to participate in a Families as Teachers program.

UW LEND trainees participate in didactic and field experiences to gain advanced skill in advocacy and policy. These opportunities are supported by partnerships with Arc of Washington and WA Developmental Disability Council. Trainees complete activities on the advocacy leadership passport.

UW LEND trainees observe and participate in ECHO programs in Washington State. ECHO is an innovative telementoriing model to build provider and community capacity to assure equitable access to care and resources. Read more

The UW LEND Adolescent Transition Series are monthly interactive webinars led by content experts and persons with lived experience designed to disseminate information and resources critical to issues related to adolescent and young adult transition for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Read More

UW LEND trainees acquire working knowledge of research principles, methodology, and practical application. Opportunities available to:

• Participate in UW LEND faculty research projects
• Participate in interdepartmental research with researchers in partner programs such as the CHDD Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center (IDDRC), Seattle Children’s Autism Clinic, and others
• Contribute to and have access to UW LEND clinical databases
• Collaborate with faculty on the UW LEND Interdisciplinary Clinical Trials Assessment Team
• Receive faculty mentoring on their own research projects and endeavors

UW LEND trainees participate in a small group of fellow trainees, referred to as a “squad.” Squads are intentionally designed to be interdisciplinary and to include at least one family or self-advocate trainee in each group. The squads are trainee-led offering opportunities for practicing leadership roles.

UW LEND offers field placements in agencies and programs at local and state levels to support leadership experience in systems of care and policy. These opportunities include observation and short-term engagement as well as more extensive hands-on participation and contribution.

Link to list of field placement opportunities

UW LEND trainees may participate as members of UW LEND interdisciplinary quality improvement committees to include: Training Committee, Clinical Services, Diversity Equity and Inclusion Committee, and Interdisciplinary Management Committee. Committees meet monthly with opportunities for in-person or virtual participation.

UW LEND trainees may participate in a variety of local and state activities through Medical Home Partnership Project (MHPP). In partnership with local communities, MHPP, UW LEND and the Department of Health Title V provide consultation and support to 16 community-based interdisciplinary autism diagnostic teams or networks, including School Medical Autism Review Teams (SMART).

Trainees may: join quarterly SMART networking Zoom meeting; attend a community-based Autism Center of Excellence Certification training; attend DOH quarterly CYSHCN Communication Network meetings; contribute to quarterly newsletter for pediatric community health providers

UW LEND trainees may apply to attend national leadership meetings for opportunity to network with LEND and other leadership trainees nationally. To include the Annual Meeting of the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) and the annual Disability Policy Seminar.