NH-ME LEND Program

04/24/2026

Friday Afternoon's Trainee Spotlight is on Jon McGovern -- a Self-Advocate trainee! Jon is a self-advocate who lives in Bangor, ME with his family. He has been employed by Speaking Up For Us (SUFU) since 2015. Prior to working for SUFU, Jon held leadership positions on the SUFU Board of Directors where he was Treasurer, Chair, and Secretary. He currently works as the Program Associate managing the database, completing mailings to members, and engaging in SUFU legislative activities.

Jon has served on the Community Advisory Committee (CAC) for the Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies (CCIDS). He is an active member of the Maine Developmental Disabilities Council (MDDC) where he chairs the Nominations Committee to recruit new council members. Jon has served on other stakeholder groups including Employment First Maine, Oversight and Advisory Board, and work groups to implement the Lifespan Waiver. Jon actively serves on the REV Up Coalition working to strengthen voting access to people with disabilities. He was a part of Project Connect in partnership with MDDC working to make healthcare more accessible for people with disabilities.

In his spare time, Jon likes to get out in his community and network. He is involved in 2 different community-based bowling leagues and is a certified non-skating official for roller derby. Jon likes listening to music including his vast vinyl record collection. He enjoys helping people out and giving back. Jon's LEND Leadership Placement is with Maine Parent Federation.

04/24/2026

Friday morning's Trainee Spotlight is on Audrey Young -- a Speech Language Pathology trainee! Audrey is a graduate of the University of Maine, where she obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD), and minored in both Child Development and Family Relations and Interdisciplinary Disability Studies. She is currently a graduate student at the University of New Hampshire (UNH) pursuing her Master of Science degree in CSD.

Audrey’s education has provided her with knowledge of speech and language development, communication disorders, and feeding/swallowing impairments across the lifespan. In the Fall 2024 semester, Audrey’s clinical experience consisted of her collaborating with clients and their families at UNH’s Speech-Language-Hearing Center and Clinic for Neurogenic Communication Disorders, and working with children at a local elementary school in York, ME.

In college, Audrey was a student volunteer at her local school district in Maine, where she worked with elementary children receiving speech services under a school speech clinician. Audrey was also a member of the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association (NSSLHA) chapter at UMaine. This club supports CSD students to find meaningful careers in the field. It also provides volunteer opportunities at community events.

Audrey has a deep-rooted connection to CSD, having received speech services during her own childhood. During this time, Audrey received the support she needed by a clinician she trusted and valued. This experience inspired Audrey to pursue an education in speech-language pathology so that she could help others like herself.

Audrey's LEND Leadership placement this year is with Dr. Ariel Schwartz supporting UNH's Institute on Disability's work on Inclusive Postsecondary Education.

04/23/2026

Thursday Afternoon's Trainee Spotlight is on Olivia Barron -- an Occupational Therapy trainee! Olivia is a graduate of the University of New Hampshire (UNH), where she earned both Bachelor and Master of Science Degrees in Occupational Therapy. Olivia has a passion for supporting community based mental health work, reducing mental health stigma, and supporting all community members to fully participate in daily meaningful activities.

She has deep understanding of family-centered care and the importance of adaptability, collaboration, and advocacy in supporting neurodivergent individuals and their families. Through her fieldwork experiences, she developed a strong interest in promoting equitable access to meaningful daily activities for all individuals, regardless of ability.

Olivia is passionate about interdisciplinary collaboration and empowering families and individuals through education and strengths-based approaches. This year, Olivia worked with Heidi Cloutier and the UNH Institute on Disability's Center for Children's Behavioral Health Program!

04/23/2026

Thursday morning's LEND Trainee Spotlight is on Alyssa Gagne -- a Speech Language Pathology trainee! Ally is a graduate of the University of Maine in Orono, Maine, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Communication Sciences and Disorders. Ally is currently a graduate student in the Communication Sciences and Disorders Program at the University of New Hampshire.

Ally spent two summers working as a Behavioral Health Professional (BHP) and Educational Technician III in an inclusive preschool program which confirmed her passion for working in early intervention, specifically with children with autism and other disabilities. She is interested in working with children in either early intervention or elementary education settings. Ally is eager to learn more about leadership, disabilities, and interprofessional collaboration related to her field.

Ally's Leadership Placement this year is with Community Crossroads!

04/22/2026

Wednesday afternoon's LEND Trainee Spotlight is on Zee Immele -- an Occupational Therapy trainee! Zee recently earned a MS in Occupational Therapy. Zee has experience working with supporting children with neurodevelopmental disabilities in achieving meaningful, functional goals.

After earning a master’s degree in international development and working both internationally and domestically in the nonprofit sector, Zee realized a true calling while supporting neurodiverse youth in under-resourced educational and residential settings. The messy sensory sessions, real-time problem solving, and behavioral complexity sparked a lasting passion for functional, hands-on intervention and meaningful collaboration.

Zee plans to build a career focusing on autonomy, accessibility, and purpose. Zee looks forward to growing alongside others who share a passion for problem-solving, creativity, and supporting children in leading meaningful lives. Zee's LEND Leadership Placement is with People First/SALT in New Hampshire.

04/22/2026

Join Dartmouth Health virtually on May 11 from 8:15 a.m. to 1 p.m. for its informative webinar, Understanding & Helping Families Navigate Complementary & Alternative Treatments for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Register now! https://ow.ly/AvcJ50YBPel

Credits: AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (4.00 hours), CME-Designated Participation Credit (4.00 hours)
In support of improving patient care, Dartmouth Health is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

Dartmouth Health Continuing Education for Professionals, Understanding & Helping Families Navigate Complementary & Alternative Treatments for ASD, 5/11/2026 8:15:00 AM - 5/11/2026 1:00:00 PM,

04/22/2026

Wednesday Morning's Trainee Spotlight is on Sarah Perry-- a Social Work trainee! Sarah is a student in the Master of Social Work (MSW) program at the University of New Hampshire (UNH). She received her Bachelor of Science (BS) in Neuroscience from Loyola University New Orleans in spring 2025.

As an undergraduate, Sarah participated in the Loyola University Community Action Program (LUCAP), a student-led club that organized and implemented various service-learning projects connecting the student body with the greater New Orleans community. She also spent time as a tutor at Girls Hope Boys Hope NOLA, which provided college preparatory support at residential housing for adolescents from disadvantaged backgrounds. During her undergraduate years, courses such as behavioral neuroscience, psychology, and sociology combined with her community service and tutoring experience piqued her interest in the field of clinical social work.

In the summer of 2024, Sarah worked as a camp counselor at Miracle Farms Speech Therapy, where she assisted in organizing and facilitating activities that promoted effective communication and behavior among children ages 3–6 years old. It was here that Sarah’s passion for pediatric psychology, behavioral health services, and disability advocacy was further strengthened.

After she graduates from her master’s program in 2027, Sarah hopes to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in New Hampshire to provide therapeutic services to children while helping their families navigate complex support systems. She aims to combine her neuroscience background with clinical social work to engage in disability care through a compassionate and evidence-based approach. Sarah's LEND Leadership partner this year is UNH's Institute on Disability's Disability and Health Program.

04/21/2026

Today's Trainee Spotlight is on Paige Galloway -- a Special Education trainee! Paige is a licensed Early Childhood Special Educator and is currently serving as the Program Director of Maine Families of Greater Portland at The Opportunity Alliance.

Prior to moving to Maine, Paige worked directly with families of infants and toddlers with developmental delays and disabilities. Her background also includes serving as the Program Manager for her local United Way’s early childhood initiative, and she has spent most of her career weaving between administrative and direct service roles.

Paige’s favorite part of working with families is helping parents to recognize that they are exactly the right parent for their child and to develop strategies and routines that support that belief.

Her interest in supporting individuals and families experiencing disability started early in life, as she is a big sister to an adult sibling with autism spectrum disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder. This has, and continues to be, an incredibly formative part of her life. Even as a young child, Paige was highly experienced at making sure her sibling's teachers knew which swing he preferred on the playground, when he would need his headphones, and where to find her if they needed backup.

Paige’s hope for her participation in LEND is to expand her knowledge in the service of ensuring that all spaces are safe spaces for children and individuals with developmental delays and disabilities.

04/21/2026

Tuesday's first Trainee Spotlight is on Regan Lamphier -- a Family Trainee! Regan graduated from Merrimack College with a BA in History. Regan has extensive experience as a family advocate for others. She attended the Policy Partners training, and then the University of New Hampshire (UNH) Institute on Disability (IOD) Leadership Series, and the Special Education Volunteer Advocate class offered by the Parent Information Center. She is a member of the New Hampshire Council for Youths with Chronic Health Conditions (NHCYCC) and has volunteered with several different non-profit organizations.

Regan is the proud recipient of the Brianna Dillon Leadership Award, which is given to a person who shows leadership in and commitment to the full participation of all people in the education, political, and cultural life of New Hampshire. She has also received the Kathleen Murphy Community Partnership Award, an award that recognizes an individual whose leadership, actions and collaborative spirit have resulted in a stronger, more respectful sense of community and belonging for citizens of all abilities.

With encouragement from her husband, Regan recently retired from the US Postal Service. After more than ten years of volunteer work, she and her family are excited that she will now be able to follow her heart to pursue a career in the disability world.

Regan's Leadership Placement is with the Disability Rights Center in NH.

04/20/2026

Today's Trainee Spotlight is on Emmerson Leach-Howell -- a Social Work trainee! Emmerson is a graduate of Norwich University with a bachelor’s degree in International Studies and minors in Criminal Justice and French. Emmerson is currently pursuing a Master of Social Work at the University of Maine Orono.

Because her mother is a teacher for children with various neurodevelopmental disabilities, Emmerson grew up volunteering, working with, and learning about children with disabilities. She has volunteered for the Special Olympics, soup kitchens, and many other organizations. She has particularly enjoyed work that focuses on issues related to accessibility. Emmerson is an active member of the Accessibility on Campus club at UMO where she is helping with an initiative that maps accessible and non-accessible spaces on campus. This initiative has provided Emmerson with insights into how many people access the world, sparking her love for advocacy work.

Emmerson's Leadership Placement for LEND is with Reentry Sisters where she is researching the intersection between disability and justice system involvement for women.

04/20/2026

Monday morning's Trainee Spotlight is on Megan Cosgrove -- a Social Work trainee! Megan is a graduate student at the University of New Hampshire (UNH), pursuing her Master of Social Work (MSW). She received her Bachelor of Science (BS) in Psychology from Connecticut College in 2023.

Throughout college, Megan interned at the Waterford Country School in Waterford, CT, a school that focuses on providing care and support to adolescents who struggle with behavioral regulation challenges and have experienced trauma. Before college, Megan interned at a non-profit in Troy, NY known as Unity House where she saw firsthand how a stable environment and living situation can play a significant role in one’s mental health. This experience led Megan to pursue her interest in clinical social work. Her desire is to support individuals through therapy and help provide a stable environment for them and their families.

Megan’s interest in developmental disabilities grew after participating in a fellowship program through McLean Hospital at an adolescent inpatient psychiatric unit. There, she began to see the difference in how psychological disabilities were observed in adolescents who also had developmental disabilities. She learned strategies for supporting each child differently based on their own personal needs.

Megan's LEND Leadership Placement is with New Hampshire Family Voices where she is supporting the Watch Me Grow initiative for child developmental community supports with a focus on New Hampshire libraries as hubs for resources.

04/08/2026

NH-ME LEND is now accepting applications for the 2026-2027 academic year✨Apply today!

The NH-ME LEND program provides graduate-level interdisciplinary training for students and professionals from a variety of disciplines, including:

Disability Studies
Family Experience
Health Administration
Medicine (pediatric or adult)
Nutrition
Nursing
Occupational Therapy
Physical Therapy
Psychology
Public Health
Self-Advocacy
Social Work
Special Education/Education
Speech Language Pathology
School Psychology/School Counseling

LEND trainees develop leadership skills related to interdisciplinary, family-centered, responsive systems of care for children and youth with developmental disabilities and their families.

Are you interested in:
✨developing an understanding of public policy and evidence-based care?
✨participating in community-based clinical observation and training?
✨coursework and hands-on experiences with faculty, families, community partners, and legislators?

A requirement of the program includes a commitment of at least 300 hours over a 9-month period typically from late August through early May.

NH-ME LEND is federally funded by the Health Resources Services Administration. Enrollment and participation in our 2026-2027 program is pending that our LEND program receives notice of the NH-ME LEND federal grant award/ pending federal funding.

Apply now! Applications will remain open until the NH-ME LEND cohort is full.
https://iod.unh.edu/nh-me-lend