The Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) Program at the Westchester Institute for Human Development (WIHD) is an interdisciplinary leadership training program designed to prepare professionals, self-advocates, and family members to become leaders in supporting individuals with disabilities and their families.
VIUCEDD partners with WIHD to provide LEND training opportunities for professionals and emerging leaders in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Through this partnership, Virgin Islands trainees have an opportunity to expand their professional knowledge, participate in interdisciplinary learning, and apply what they learn to the needs of individuals with disabilities and families in the Territory.
An Interdisciplinary Approach to Leadership
One of the defining characteristics of LEND is its interdisciplinary approach. The WIHD program brings together trainees from a wide range of backgrounds, including psychology, social work, special education, medicine, nursing, occupational therapy, public health, nutrition, audiology, speech-language pathology, self-advocacy, family perspectives, and other disciplines.
Bringing these perspectives together allows participants to learn from one another while developing the knowledge and leadership skills needed to work with and on behalf of children with disabilities, people with special health care needs, and their families.
The LEND Training Experience
The WIHD LEND Program is a two-semester interdisciplinary training experience. Its curriculum emphasizes areas including family partnerships, cultural competence, interdisciplinary and evidence-based practice, neurodevelopmental disabilities, and leadership development.
Participants engage in collaborative learning and activities designed to connect professional knowledge with real-world leadership. WIHD’s curriculum includes coursework addressing neurodevelopmental disabilities and systems of care, evidence-based methods, and interdisciplinary leadership.
Connecting the Virgin Islands to LEND
Through VIUCEDD’s partnership with WIHD, the LEND experience extends to the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Each year, VIUCEDD recruits two trainees from St. Croix to participate in the program, with Dr. Patsy Guthrie, NCC, NCSP serving as the local LEND facilitator.
Trainees make a significant commitment throughout the training year, including participation in weekly Thursday sessions, interdisciplinary learning activities, and other program requirements. Each trainee also completes a research project focused on an area related to developmental disabilities, health, services, or community needs.
Developing Knowledge That Can Serve the Territory
For Virgin Islands participants, LEND provides more than professional training. It creates an opportunity to learn alongside professionals from different disciplines and consider how that knowledge can be applied within the local community.
The experience helps trainees strengthen their understanding of developmental disabilities, interdisciplinary collaboration, evidence-based practices, leadership, and the needs of individuals and families.
By connecting Virgin Islands professionals and emerging leaders with a broader interdisciplinary training network, the VIUCEDD and WIHD partnership helps build local knowledge and leadership that can continue serving the Territory.
Learn More About LEND
Readers who would like to explore the program further can visit the official resources below:
- WIHD Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) Program — Program overview, curriculum, training information, and current LEND opportunities.
- Westchester Institute for Human Development — Learn more about WIHD and its disability-related programs, training, research, and services.
- HRSA Maternal and Child Health Bureau — LEND Program Information — Federal information about the purpose and national scope of LEND programs.
