Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities

The Maine Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) program is a federally-funded project aimed at expanding resources to individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and other Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (ND) in the state.

Goals

Our goals include training healthcare providers, parents, educators, and others to improve the health of children and others with ASD, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, genetic, and other disorders that affect their quality of life. We focus on timely diagnosis, early identification and intervention, effective services, transition to the workforce, and increasing participation in family and peer activities such as school and the workplace.

Training

LEND training includes classroom and experiential learning, parent and provider conferences, and the visitation of key agencies throughout the state.

Each year, long-term trainees (graduate students from up to 11 different disciplines, family members, and self-advocates) receive 300 hours of training in nine months. The training involves mentored experiences in clinical settings, classroom sessions, and community experiences to learn best practices, interprofessional teamwork, leadership development, and advocacy activities to prepare them to take on leadership roles in their respective fields.

Download the Maine LEND Brochure (PDF)

UNE/Maine LEND Pediatric Physical Therapy Residency Program

UNE and the Maine LEND have established a Pediatric Physical Therapy Residency Program (PDF). The mission of the program is to prepare residents for clinical specialty and independent advanced practice in pediatric physical therapy.

Learn more about the Pediatric Physical Therapy Residency Program

Prechtl Assessment of General Movements Course

UNE is proud to offer the Basic General Movement Assessment Course. Research conducted over the past 20 years has shown that the qualitative assessment of spontaneous movement in the fetus, newborn, and young infant is an early and reliable indicator for the diagnosis and prognosis of neurological disorders. Compelling evidence demonstrates that the qualitative assessment of General Movements (GMs) — a specific type of spontaneous movement — in infants under the age of five months is the best predictor of cerebral palsy. This course fulfills the standards specified by the General Movements Trust.

The course will consist of lessons, demonstrations, and discussions of video recordings. Lectures will alternate with exercises in small groups, discussing videos prepared by the tutors. At the end of the course, participants will be required to take a final test to receive a certificate of reliability in this method of assessment.

The target audience includes neonatologists, pediatric neurologists, general pediatricians, developmental and behavioral pediatricians, and physical and occupational therapists. For additional information about these courses, please contact the course coordinator, Eileen Ricci, at (207) 221-4588 or ericci@une.edu.

Learn more and register for the Basic General Movement Assessment Course

Partners

UNE is collaborating with several community partners including Maine Medical Center, Maine General Hospital, and Northeast Hearing and Speech. Specialists from all over the state serve as instructors, mentors, liaisons, and role models. In turn, the LEND program builds and strengthens community and rural partnerships and engages underserved populations to deliver services and increase knowledge.

We are looking into how easy or hard it is for parents to use a free smartphone app that will help doctors know if your baby is at high risk for problems with sitting, walking, or other early movements.

Your child may qualify to participate in this study if he/she:

• Born Full Term (40 weeks)
• Will soon be aged 10-16 weeks
• Had any problems before, during, or after birth
• Was admitted and discharged from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)

What will I have to do?

• Sign a consent form
• Record a 2–3 minute video of your baby using a smartphone app between 10–16 weeks old
• Complete a survey (5 minutes) about using the app

To learn more information about this study or how you can participate, email the research team at babymoves@une.com. You will be compensated with a $50 Amazon gift card for your time.

For more information contact Lianne Lissauer, Maine LEND program coordinator at (207) 221-4582.