"The ILEND program has provided me with exposure to clinical practice, development of legislation, family life, and community awareness."
— Former ILEND Trainee
Training Overview
The ILEND curriculum provides more than 300 hours of didactic instruction and experiential activities during the two semesters of the academic year, August to May.
Current Trainees
The 2024-2025 ILEND cohort is made up of 31 trainees, representing 14 disciplines, including graduate students, self-advocates, and family and community members.
Program Highlights
The ILEND program features a broad range of long- and short-term activities that allow trainees the chance to explore what it means to live with a disability.
Research Posters
ILEND trainees conduct individual and group research projects. Trainees participate in a research symposium at the end of the academic year.
Faculty & Staff
ILEND faculty and staff include core staff who administer program activities throughout the year, and core faculty who mentor trainees in their individual disciplines.
Apply/Contact Us
The ILEND program will be accepting applications for the 2025-2026 academic year in the fall. Learn more about the application requirements and process.
Through a new partnership, the Iowa LEND program has welcomed the first student from the Doctor of Occupational Therapy program at Des Moines University. Morgan Leach, a second-year student in DMU’s O.T.D. program, learned about LEND as an undergraduate at the University of Iowa.
Iowa's LEND Program (ILEND)
ILEND is part of a national network of 60 LEND programs across the country. LEND stands for Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities. LEND programs provide interdisciplinary leadership training for graduate students, family members, and self-advocates.
ILEND improves the health of Iowans with disabilities across the lifespan. We accomplish this by preparing trainees from diverse healthcare, educational, and community disciplines to assume leadership roles in their respective fields and by ensuring high levels of interdisciplinary clinical competence.
Clinical and non-clinical trainees expand their skills and knowledge in leadership, cultural competency and diversity, person and family-centered care, policy and advocacy, coordinated systems of healthcare and related services for individuals with special health care needs and their families.
But is there one word that describes the ILEND program? Some former trainees and faculty and staff share a few words about ILEND...
Iowa LEND Funding and Affiliation
LEND programs are federally funded under the Autism Collaboration, Accountability, Research, Education, and Support (CARES) Act, and are administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration's (HRSA) Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB). The Iowa LEND program is affiliated with University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital and is located within the Center for Disabilities and Development.
Join Iowa LEND!
Visit the Apply/Contact Us page to download applications in pdf or Word format.