News

ArizonaLEND Wrapped Up the Year with First Annual Research Symposium

ArizonaLEND held its first annual Research Symposium on May 2, 2025, highlighting the work of its 2024-2025 cohort of trainees through a traditional academic poster presentation format. The event brought together ArizonaLEND faculty, family members, university partners, and community guests to celebrate the achievements of the program's emerging leaders.

ArizonaLEND Trainees Highlight the Inequities within DCS

The group reviewed the Arizona Revised Statutes policies to see where Arizona is lacking in their protection against discrimination of parents with disabilities within the DCS system. As a result of their research, they developed a fact sheet discussing Arizona’s state policies and includes comparisons to similar states.

ArizonaLEND Trainees Advocate at State Capitol, Informing Legislators About Vital Work of The ArizonaLEND Program

On April 1st an interdisciplinary group of 6 ArizonaLEND Trainees and 2 faculty members traveled to Phoenix to meet with state senators and representatives. ArizonaLEND provides this opportunity annually, giving our cohort members firsthand, in-person advocacy experience. The trainees prepare in advance of meetings to educate on what our professions do, the people we treat and support, and the impact ArizonaLEND has in our state.

Dr. Angela Rosenberg, ArizonaLEND Faculty, Unveils Her Latest Book, Being on the Wing: Feathered Reflections on the Enneagram Subtypes

The second installment in The Enneagram in Nature series, Being on the Wing, explores the 27 Enneagram subtypes, guiding readers towards deeper self-awareness and insights into others through the symbolic wisdom of nature’s winged creatures.

Congratulations to Carolyn Tureaud, ArizonaLEND Trainee (2024-2025), on receiving the UA Hispanic Alumni Scholarship

Carolyn Tureaud’s research holds significant promise in advancing education for children with special health care needs. The $8,000 scholarship from the University of Arizona Hispanic Alumni Graduate Scholarship Program is a well-deserved recognition of her dedication to improving educational access and outcomes for underserved communities.

ArizonaLEND Alum (2023-2024), Katrina Jean, Shares Her Research on Evaluating School-based Mental Health Care Access and Associated Academic Outcomes for Elementary Students in Pima County

The proposed research has a specific focus on the opportunity gap for students with disabilities receiving special education services and historically marginalized youth.

Trainee Spotlight: Hope Wollen - ArizonaLEND Trainee and Graduate Student in the Genetic Counseling Graduate Program

In addition to her participation in ArizonaLEND and the Genetic Counseling Graduation Program, Hope Wollen has been busy serving as a student ambassador for the Expecting Health Newborn Screening Program. While serving in this role, she developed a newborn screening research program and created fact sheets for providers and parents.

Jeremy Legaspi, ArizonaLEND Alum, Works to Engage AAC Users in Building a Wider Community

Speech-Language pathologists Jeremy Legaspi (ArizonaLEND Alum 2021-2022) and Wylanta Jones recently created Camp Connect, a camp designed for young people who use Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Devices.

Gabriela Enríquez Hernández, ArizonaLEND Alum, Shares Her Research on Acceptability of Behavioral Treatment Among Hispanic Families in Southern Arizona

ArizonaLEND Alum (2022-2023), Gabriela Enríquez Hernández, has been doing incredible work in Southern Arizona with Hispanic families whose children have behavioral health needs. Her current research is looking at the treatment acceptability of applied behavior analysis (ABA) treatment strategies among Hispanic families.

Dan Combs helps young Down syndrome patients get good ZZZs

Assistant professor and ArizonaLEND Alum (2012-2013) focuses on improving sleep as the first step toward a better quality of life for his patients and their families.

Arizona LEND Trainee (2017-2018), Azucena Bravo, Making Waves in the Underserved Hispanic Community in Southern Arizona

Azucena Bravo has founded two non-profits serving the Hispanic community in Southern Arizona, Mini Poderosas and Xoco. “I have a vision for both organizations, to build community,” Azucena said.

ArizonaLEND Leadership Intensive Workshop

ArizonaLEND fellows were joined by the University of Arizona Pediatric Pulmonary Center (PPC) and the TRANSCEND Nutrition Programs from Arizona State University (ASU), Penn State, and Montclair State University for an intensive three-day Leadership Workshop. Such an amazing way to kickstart the 2024-2025 academic year!

Congratulations to Dr. Toni Saia, ArizonaLEND faculty

Dr. Saia earned the inaugural Judy Heumann Civil Leadership Award for her commitment to promoting inclusion, accessibility, and equality for individuals with disabilities.

Trainees with Rep. Rachel Jones, April 2024

Current Trainees, Marlisa Wootton, Hatty Lara, and Natalie Sarvey met with multiple Arizona legislators at the State Capitol in Phoenix, AZ. Pictured here with Rachel Jones, House of Representatives representing District 17. Marlisa, Hatty, Natalie and ArizonaLEND were given a shout out on the senate floor.

Congratulations to ArizonaLEND Trainee Alum, Ivette Merced, for Receiving the P.E.O. Scholar Award

The P.E.O. Scholar Awards are one-time, competitive, merit-based awards intended to recognize and encourage academic excellence and achievement by women in doctoral-level programs. These awards provide partial support for study and research.

That's a Wrap - Congratulations to the 2022-2023 ArizonaLEND Cohort!

Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are now being offered for the ArizonaLEND Educational Seminars

Former ArizonaLEND trainee, Cynthia Garcia, was in the first cohort of the UArizona College of Nursing's Autism Spectrum Diagnosis Certificate Nurse Practitioner Program

We congratulate Cynthia Garcia (former 2018-2019 ArizonaLEND trainee) on completing the Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) certificate program! The ASD certificate program prepares nurse practitioners to diagnose and manage pediatric patients with autism.

2020-2021 ArizonaLEND Leadership Intensive Workshop - via Zoom!

The University of Arizona LEND trainees started the year with a 3-day Leadership Intensive Workshop. They were joined by trainees from the University of Arizona Pediatric Pulmonary Center (PPC) and the Arizona State University TRANSCEND Program. LEND, PPC, and TRANSCEND are all leadership training programs funded by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau.

Autism STEAM Camp

Morgan Kern, ArizonaLEND fellow and master's student in the Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, helped coordinate a camp for children and adolescents with autism.

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