Contact
For more information contact Lianne Lissauer, Maine LEND program coordinator at (207) 221-4582.
Program Staff
Core Faculty
Additional Faculty
Nancy Cronin
Advocacy
Director of the ME Developmental Disabilities Council
Erika Lichter, Sc.D., M.A., M.S.
Epidemiology
Maternal and Child Health Epidemiologist, State of Maine and Associate Research Professor, University of Southern Maine Muskie School of Public Service
Stephen Meister, M.D.
Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics
Medical Director of the Edmund N. Ervin Pediatric Center at MaineGeneral Medical Center
Joanna Reidy
Family Faculty
Mother of a child with ND
2024–2025 trainees
Maine LEND is a federally-funded program in Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities. Spanning a spectrum of specializations, our trainees engage in didactic, clinical, and leadership experiences in order to provide enhanced and expanded services to those in Maine with autism, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, or other neurodevelopmental disabilities, their families, and their schools.
I am Brian Bellonzi, this year’s self advocate. I am on the autism spectrum, and I also have ADHD and anxiety. I joined the LEND program as a self advocate to give back to the services that have helped me throughout my life and grow into the person I am today. I also joined to help people on the autism spectrum like myself have a voice. I am overjoyed to be a part of the LEND program and I am glad to be a voice for people like myself.
Molly Cadogan
Molly is currently in her third and final year in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program at UNE. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Educational Studies and Health, Wellness, and Occupational Studies from UNE in 2022. Prior to graduation, Molly was an intern at Saco Bay Kids and Kids Go Eco Nature School, reinforcing her belief that all kids should be able to move effectively and enjoy the outdoors.
Since being in physical therapy school, Molly has had many opportunities to get involved in the community including volunteering at the iCan Bike Camp in Falmouth, projects at Westbrook Housing, and Meals for Maine. Molly is currently on her third clinical practicum at the Auburn School District. When not on clinical Molly can be found reading a book, playing volleyball, or hanging out with friends in the Portland area.
Dylan Campbell
Dylan uses his lived experience navigating the many systems of care alongside his family, in support of his siblings with disabilities. Since 2017 Dylan has worked with Maine Parent Federation, the state’s Parent Training and Information as a Youth Coordinator and Parent Trainer. Since late 2021 Dylan has provided professional consultation to the Maine’s Department of Education Office of Special Services and Inclusive Education and acted as one of two co-chairs for Maine’s Executive Student Transition Committee.
Dylan was also nationally recognized in 2022 as the recipient of the AMCHP Ryan Colburn Award for his work establishing youth-oriented programs and building connections with partners across the state of Maine and Northeast U.S. Through commitment and collaboration, we can create an equitable and inclusive future for all.
David Koenig
David Koenig is a Social Worker employed by North Star Education Services in Bedford, New Hampshire where he works with students on executive functioning, communication, life, and academic skills. He is also a founding member of Wayfinder, an organization which aims to support people on the autism spectrum, their family members, and their caregivers via peer mentoring support groups and educational talks. David completed his M.S.W. at the University of New England’s Portland campus. As a person diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and non-verbal learning disorder, he has an insider’s perspective on both of these neurodevelopmental disabilities. In his free time, David enjoys reading, writing, singing, video games, and tabletop roleplaying,
Through LEND, David hopes to learn ways to better communicate and work together with professionals in a variety of domains, gain a broader understanding of people who have neurodevelopmental disabilities, and learn methods for effectively working alongside institutions to provide greater support for people with neurodevelopmental disabilities.
Maya Hixon
Maya is a student in the Master of Occupational Therapy program at the University of New England. She discovered her passion for working with children with neurodevelopmental disabilities through working as a behavioral health professional (BHP) for years, leading her to pursue a master’s degree. Maya aims to view her clients and work through a lens of inclusion, compassion, and positive regard, using the “least dangerous assumption” framework as her guide.
Aside from her academic and professional interests, Maya enjoys spending time with friends and family, reading, and coloring. She is honored for the opportunity to be a part of the Maine LEND team and continue to grow her knowledge of the world of neurodevelopmental disabilities.
Rudi Klarmann
Rudi is currently in their final year of their Doctor of Audiology program. They are completing their externship year at Northeast Hearing and Speech, where they provide intervention and assessments in hearing healthcare for both children and adults in the Portland area. They received their Bachelor of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Texas. Rudi has a passion for working with newborns and those who struggle with tinnitus. In their spare time they enjoy photography, bird watching, and hiking.
Ashley Malmberg
Ashley Malmberg, M.S., CCC-SLP, earned her Bachelor of Arts in Communication Sciences and Disorders from SUNY Buffalo in 2019 and her Masters of Science in Speech Language Pathology from The College of Saint Rose in 2021. She has since worked in North Carolina for a pediatric clinic specializing in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Hammond Associates here in Maine in both clinic and school settings, and most recently at Bridgton Hospital with both children and adults in the outpatient and inpatient therapy settings.
She currently works for Northeast Hearing and Speech in Portland, ME. Areas of interest include language, articulation, voice, and cognition. Ashley is certified in the Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT), a program utilized to help individuals with Parkinson's Disease and children with diagnoses such as cerebral palsy and Down syndrome, improve vocal loudness.
Annick Metoule
Annick Metoule is a dedicated public health professional and a Doctor of Health Sciences candidate. She earned her Master of Public Health from the University of New England while working in the dental field.
With a long experience in the medical field, Annick is passionate about advancing health equity and improving access to care for underserved populations. Currently, she works at the Maine Primary Care Association, where she promotes oral health initiatives supporting Community Health Centers.
In her free time, Annick enjoys engaging in community service and spending quality time with her family, especially her two children.
Emily Morse
Emily is a second year Occupational Therapy student at the University of New England in Portland and is currently completing her second clinical rotation at Central Maine Medical Center. Emily hopes to work as an Occupational Therapist with the pediatric population after she graduates in May, whether that be in a hospital, outpatient clinic, or school.
Aside from her current clinical rotation and passion for Occupational Therapy, Emily enjoys spending as much time as possible in nature, whether that be through skiing, swimming, hiking, camping, or simply sitting in the sun while reading a good book.
Emily is excited and grateful to be a part of the MaineLEND program this year to gain more exposure and knowledge surrounding neurodevelopmental disabilities, policy, and advocacy work. She is looking forward to using the knowledge gained in the LEND program to best support her future clients and their families with acceptance, understanding, and unconditional positive regard.
Olivia Roy
Olivia is currently completing her Masters in Occupational Therapy at the University of New England. She is excited to be a part of LEND to learn from multiple disciplines, and participate in this unique team of professionals. Olivia has a passion for helping individuals meet their goals, gain independence, and continue to achieve meaning through activity. She is a proud Mainer and enjoys anything to do with the outdoors, you can often find her skiing, fly fishing, or spending time with her family.
Amy Smith
Amy Smith is a master’s candidate for Educational Psychology-School Psychology at The University of Southern Maine. She is completing her internship at Old Orchard Beach School District for K-12. She lives in Portland and moved to Maine 5 years ago. She is originally from Colorado and is happy to live by the ocean. Amy decided to return to school and start a new career during the lockdown period of COVID-19.
She is excited to work in public schools and be a part of the mental health workers in school. There is an increased need for mental health professionals in the school, and she is passionate about ensuring students get the services they need to succeed.
She enjoys hiking, swimming, going to the beach, reading, and spending time with friends and family.
Gwen Tedder
Gwen Tedder is passionate about ensuring all people feel heard and included, believing everyone has a place. As part of LEND, she is learning how to leverage her experiences to help more students feel supported. She’s also working on a research project to enhance food choices for autistic students by improving their cooking skills.
Gwen has always had a love for research, from her science fair projects as a teen to her independent study while earning her bachelor’s degree in Food and Nutrition Science at Florida State University. A mother to three young men, she and her husband have explored various educational options, including public education and community-based home instruction. Gwen also worked as a homeschool tutor for over 8 years, sparking wonder and curiosity in her students. Additionally, she served as a director for two years, coordinating programs for families. She currently teaches chemistry at Interrobang, a diverse homeschool community in Westbrook, Maine, and enjoys cooking large meals to share with friends in need or her church family at Missio Dei Church.