New Hampshire-Maine Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (NH-ME LEND) Program – 2021-2026

LEND Trainees 25-26 Group Photo

The University of Maine Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies is partnering with the University of New Hampshire Institute on Disability, and Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine, in the New Hampshire-Maine Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (NH-ME LEND) Program. NH-ME LEND provides graduate level interdisciplinary training for students and professionals from a wide variety of disciplines, including developmental pediatrics, early childhood education, social work, psychology, occupational therapy, health management and policy, and speech language pathology. Program activities include leadership development, clinical training, continuing education/technical assistance, research, and field work. University of Maine trainees participate remotely in the weekly NH-ME LEND seminar through the use of eLearning and videoconferencing technology.

Applications for the 2026-2027 NH-ME LEND Program at the University of Maine will be accepted beginning March 2026. Applications will remain open until the NH-ME LEND cohort is full. Complete the online application. For a printable application, please contact us.

Thinking about applying? Applications are accepted from:

  • Graduate students in early childhood special education, family studies, nursing, nutrition, occupational therapy, pediatrics, physical therapy, psychology, public health, social work, speech language pathology, or other related disciplines. Applicants must have earned a minimum of a bachelor’s degree.
  • Professionals working in the community supporting children and youth (birth to 21 years) with neurodevelopmental disabilities and/or special health care needs and their families (i.e., early support and service providers, school administrators, general & special educators, related service professionals, and health care providers). Applicants must have earned a minimum of a bachelor’s degree.
  • Advocates with a disability or family members of a person with a disability and/or complex health care needs. Applicants with  demonstrated leadership experience are welcome to apply.

A requirement of the program includes a commitment of at least 300 hours over a 9‐month period. Trainees who are accepted into the program will receive a stipend provided by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau.

*Alternative formats of this application, including Braille and large print are available upon request.

This rigorous 9-month curriculum follows the academic calendar and includes coursework and hands-on experiences with faculty, families, community partners, and legislators that support trainees’ abilities to:

  1. Develop leadership skills that address the needs of children who have neurodevelopmental disabilities and their families, and allow trainees to move into leadership roles in their communities.
  2. Develop an understanding of public policy and evidence-based care.
  3. Participate in clinical training at hospital and community-based clinical settings in Maine.

Program activities include leadership development, clinical training, continuing education/technical assistance, research, and field work.

Funding Source:

HRSA Logo

The NH-ME LEND Program is supported by a grant (#T73MC332460300) from the Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and administered by the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD).

Funding Period:

July 1, 2021 – June 30, 2026

NH-ME LEND Newsletter – Spotlight

January 2026 Newsletter

November 2025 Newsletter

September 2025 Newsletter

Meet the NH-ME LEND Program Trainees:

UMaine Trainees’ Publications and Presentations

Contact Person(s):

Sarah Smith, DSc, OTR/L, NH-ME LEND Program Director, Associate Professor
University of New Hampshire
103A Pettee Hall
Durham, NH 03824 603.862.2463
s.smith@unh.edu

Alan Cobo-Lewis, Ph.D., Co-Principal Investigator and Co-Program Director
NH-ME LEND Program
University of Maine
Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies (UCEDD)
5717 Corbett Hall, Room 230
Orono, ME 04469-5717
207.581.1084
800.203.6957
207.581.1231 (Fax)
TTY users call Maine Relay 711
alanc@maine.edu

Stacy Driscoll, B.A., M.Ed., Interdisciplinary Training Director
Institute on Disability
G05D Pettee Hall
Durham, NH 03824
603.862.4839
Stacy.Driscoll@unh.edu

Marnie Morneault, B.S., M.Ed., Interdisciplinary Training Co-director
University of Maine
Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies
5717 Corbett Hall, Rm 234
Orono, ME 04469-571
207.735.6134 (cell)
marnie.morneault@maine.edu

Jennifer Maeverde, B.S., M.A., Faculty
University of Maine
Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies
5717 Corbett Hall, Rm 234
Orono, ME 04469-5717
207.949.2463 (cell)
jennifer.maeverde@maine.edu

Hibo Omer, MPH, Faculty
University of Maine
homer@nmphi.org

Desiree Peña, M.A., CCC-SLP, Faculty
University of Maine
desiree.pena@maine.edu

Tracey Miller, M.Ed.
University of Maine, Faculty
tracey.n.miller@maine.edu

Jaclyn Peterson, BS, Faculty
University of Maine
Jaclyn.peterson3@gmail.com 

Susan Russell, M.S., Faculty
NH-ME LEND Program
University of Maine
Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies (UCEDD)
5717 Corbett Hall, Room 229
Orono, ME 04469-5717
207.581.1381
800.203.6957
TTY users call Maine Relay 711
srussell@maine.edu

Links:

Project photo courtesy of the NH-ME LEND Program.

New Hampshire-Maine LEND
Institute on Disability/UCED, University of New Hampshire
Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine.