LEND Training Opportunities | UC Davis MIND Institute

Faculty at the MIND Institute and California State University of Sacramento (CSUS) mentor and teach LEND trainees. LEND trainees learn about autism and developmental disabilities through seminars, clinical experiences, community service, and leadership/research projects. Here is more information about each of the following training opportunities.

Seminars

LEND trainees can learn about autism and developmental disabilities, leadership, interdisciplinary care, systems of care, public health perspectives of care, cultural responsiveness, family-centered care, communication skills, and research within three seminars offered through LEND. These seminars are led by experts with professional and/or lived experience.

Trainees participate in interactive discussion during courses. Participation in seminars can be either online or in-person. Seminars may include readings or assignments to prepare for classes. Seminars usually occur on Mondays or Thursdays. Long-term trainees are expected to attend every week while medium-term trainees have the option to attend as many as their schedule allows.

Clinical Experiences / Interdisciplinary Training

Clinical experiences provide LEND trainees opportunities to learn about interdisciplinary diagnostic evaluations or intervention for individuals with autism/developmental disabilities and their families. Trainees learn how interdisciplinary clinical teams provide service in clinical settings. They also learn about leadership skills, family-centered care, and culturally responsive care for children and adolescents.

Types of involvement: Trainees observe or directly work with fellow LEND trainees and faculty during clinical experiences. Some trainees who have a clinical supervisor provide diagnostic evaluations or evidence-based treatment for children or adolescents who may have or are diagnosed with autism or a developmental disability and their family members.
Locations of clinical experiences: Trainees observe and participate in discussions online for some virtual or hybrid clinics. Trainees may attend clinical observations or provide direct care at the MIND Institute or other Sacramento community locations.
Dates of clinics: Dates and times are variable, and we try our best to take into consideration the availability of trainees. Clinics are open during business hours (Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.).

Community Partners

Trainees will have experiences at LEND community sites that serve children who are at risk for or have autism or developmental disabilities. Community partner sites focus on early childhood, school-aged children, and/or adolescents. All community training sites provide interdisciplinary service and family-centered care.

Leadership/Research Projects

Leadership/Research Projects should address a topic related to improving access to evidence-based, assessment, treatment and services for people with neurodevelopmental disabilities and their families. Projects are developed in collaboration with a LEND faculty mentor to address an area of interest for you that fulfills some of the LEND training goals.

Trainee learning opportunities or expectations: All long-term LEND trainees are required to complete a Leadership-Research project under the guidance of a LEND faculty mentor. Medium-term trainees have the option to complete a project but are not required to complete one.

Presentation Opportunities:

Projects are completed during the training year and are presented at the end of the program. LEND trainees have multiple ways to present, including a 15-minute oral presentation, a video or a poster presentation. Projects will be presented to the MIND Institute faculty, staff, and fellow trainees at a MIND Research Seminar Series meeting in May.
Trainees may also be invited to share their poster as a professional poster presentation during conferences such as the MIND Summer Institute Conference on Neurodevelopmental Disabilities held in late July/early August.

Here are some past examples of LEND Leadership/Research projects: