UNE LEND team attends national advocacy conference

UNE was well-represented at the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) conference, held November 5-8 in Washington, D.C. The conference emphasized the critical importance of communication and advocacy on both the collective and personal levels.

Attendees took part in networking sessions, guest speaker presentations, policy committee luncheons and regional meetings on strategy, advocacy, and programs. The conference concluded with Capitol Hill policy meetings where LEND leaders met with Senator Angus King and Representative Chellie Pingree.

“I was incredibly impressed by the individuals I heard from and spoke to,” said LEND trainee Matt Pascarella. “Many sessions had a range of people with developmental disabilities speaking about their experiences. They are incredible advocates for themselves, speaking out to make sure those with disabilities are being heard.”

Attendees from UNE included LEND Director Eileen Ricci, PT, D.P.T., M.S., P.C.S., LEND Training Director Kathryn Loukas, OTD, M.S., OTR/L, FAOTA, Valerie Jones, LMSW, assistant clinical professor of Social Work, and trainees Emily Gall (D.P.T. ’18), Kim Humphrey, M.P.H., Matt Pascarella and Melissa Ward. LEND practitioners included Laurie Mack, M.A., CCC-SLP of Northeast Hearing and Speech.

To learn more about the Maine LEND program, visit www.une.edu/LEND

To apply, visit www.une.edu/admissions