Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) programs provide graduate level interprofessional training through academic, clinical, and community opportunities. SC LEND is intended to be completed in conjunction with work or other graduate level training commitments (with the support of employers and/or graduate level training program).
Long-term Trainees* complete 300+ hours of course work, clinical, and leadership training experiences, typically during a one year traineeship. Opportunities may exist for Medium-term Plus Trainees, who complete portions of the training curriculum (e.g. didactic coursework or clinical training).
Applications are reviewed in the Spring for the following academic year.
Types of Trainees
Long Term - 300+ hours
Medium Term Plus - 150-300 hours
Medium Term - 41-149 hours
Advanced - Completing a second year of LEND
*Stipends may be available for Long-term trainees
All medium term plus trainees complete:
In-person and online Orientation
A two-semester online, asynchronous course featuring instruction in both clinical and nonclinical topics
Three Mentor Meetings
Select two of the following experiences:
Clinical Experiences
Community networking
Leadership/Research/ Advocacy Project
Family Mentorship Project
In-Person Leadership Seminars
In-person and online Orientation
Three Mentor Meetings
A two-semester online, asynchronous course featuring instruction in both clinical and nonclinical topics
A leadership/research/advocacy project of your choosing. This can be a group project and the topic/scope is very flexible as long as it relates to neurodevelopmental disability.
Attend 2 in-person leadership days as well as 1 synchronous virtual leadership day.
5 Clinical Observations
2 Community Networking Meetings
All training requirement are documented on the Individualized Leadership Training Plan (ILTP) which is developed at the start of every year between the trainee and mentor.
All hours are completed over the course of one academic year (August - June)
Trainees may choose to further enrich their SC LEND experience by participating in the optional Family Mentorship Project. The purpose of the Family Mentorship Project is to provide a broader perspective of the lives of the children and families trainees will encounter throughout their career, going beyond their academic area of expertise.
Trainees opting in will be matched with a family in their community to visit at home, at school, at a therapy session, or in the community.
Two visits with the family throughout the course of the year are the requirement of the Family Mentorship Project.
1. Complete online application (Link below)
2. Submit the following materials to SC LEND Program Coordinator, Paige Daugherty, at sclend@musc.edu
Letter of Interest: Include your reasons for applying and long-term professional goals. Include experiences you have had within the disability community and/or in working with children with developmental disabilities and their families. Feel free to add anything else you would like us to know about you that is not already covered in this application. Applications from people with disabilities and their families are encouraged to apply. Please limit this to one page.
A copy of your curriculum vitae or resume
Two letter of support from supervisors or colleagues that emphasize your experience and potential leadership abilities in the field. These can be uploaded here or emailed directly from the reference.
Documentation showing enrollment in a graduate program (If applicable; unofficial transcripts are accepted)