LEND Program

LEND Program Highlights 2007- 2008

LEND at the National Disability Policy Seminar in Washington DC

According to the MCH Leadership Competencies (2.0; 2007), MCH leaders "must possess the knowledge and skills required to defend and advocate for… resources in competitive economic and political environments." The LEND Program at Westchester Institute for Human Development UCEDD has always included advocacy and policy in its curriculum, but in response to the new MCH Leadership Competencies and to feedback from the previous year’s LEND trainees, this component of our 2007-2008 curriculum was re-designed and substantially expanded.

The curriculum was linked to participation in the National Disability Policy Seminar by a number of our LEND trainees. The goal of the new curriculum module was that "all LEND trainees, and particularly those who will represent the WIHD at the 2008 Disability Policy Meeting, will better understand the disability policy agenda and process at the federal level and will plan how to benefit maximally from LEND trainee participation in the meeting." Trainees received invitations to apply to receive funding to attend the National Seminar by writing about how it would benefit their work with children and families.

Trainees were accompanied to the National Seminar by two LEND faculty members and the UCEDD Director. They attended seminar sessions, met with members of the New York State delegation to the meeting, and accompanied AUCD staff to meetings on the Hill with legislative staffers.

On returning, the five trainees (Elana Yudman, Sheryl White, Loretta Severson, Marie Pennacchio and Aieya Jean-Francois) each made half hour presentations to the LEND group on a legislative issue of their choice  researched at the seminar which included Medicaid, Autism, Education, DD Act SS/SSI; Housing, Direct Support Services, Community Living and the Budget and Appropriations Process.

Feedback from the trainees was very positive. The most common feedback concerning the national seminar was the value of seeing so many individuals with disabilities and family members in advocacy roles.

Read more about the National Disability Policy Seminar
http://www.aucd.org/template/news.cfm?news_id=2559&id=586&parent=586

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