University of Rochester LEND

03/26/2026

Earlier this week, our UR LEND faculty and fellows traveled to Washington, DC to attend Disability Policy Seminar. The Disability Policy Seminar promotes unity and movement building and amplifies the concerns of people with IDD before Congress. On the last day of the conference, our faculty and fellows met with members of Congress and discussed the importance of Medicaid funding. UR LEND trainees are learning to advocate on the local, state, and even federal level.

03/19/2026

We’d like to introduce you to Ashley Wilson, Education trainee. At the beginning of the year, we asked our trainees questions to get to know them better. Here are some of Ashley’s answers:

What book or series did you wish you could live in?
I would live in the Twilight books, just so I could meet the Quileute tribe!

What word do you want to be added to the dictionary, and what is the definition?
“McCamperson” – a word that refers to a person who brings the singing, joy, and happiness of summer camp to everyday life

If you could use magic to do one mundane task for the rest of your life, what would it be? (Bonus question: What would you name the spell?)
Cleaning the bathroom… and I would love for the spell to be a non-verbal hand wave across the room. Something about it being non-verbal makes it cooler than it is.
What is your aim for this year?
Find community and meet new people! Rochester seems like an amazing place to do that.

What does true leadership mean to you?
Open communication and consideration. You listen to the people you work with, and you take care of the community you chose to be a part of.

03/12/2026

Meet Lauren Bendall, Physical Therapy trainee. At the beginning of the year, we asked our trainees questions to get to know them better. Here are some of Lauren’s answers:

What book or series did you wish you could live in?
Gilmore Girls

What would be the tagline to the sitcom of your life?
“Can we stop for coffee?”

If you could use magic to do one mundane task for the rest of your life, what would it be? (Bonus question: What would you name the spell?)
Washing dishes

What aspect of your discipline do you enjoy most?
I love helping children meet developmental milestones such as walking for the first time. It is so rewarding to make such a meaningful difference in our patients and their families’ lives.

What does true leadership mean to you?
Stepping up when others won’t, even if it may be scary or uncomfortable, to help achieve a common goal

03/06/2026

We’d like to introduce you to Emily Speybroeck, Psychology trainee. At the beginning of the year, we asked our trainees questions to get to know them better. Here are some of Emily’s answers:

What would you sing at Karaoke night?
Every time we touch by Cascade

What is something that people would never guess just by looking at you?
I have 7 siblings

Would you rather be the funniest or smartest person in the room? Why?
Funniest – I always want to be in a room with those smarter than me so I can keep learning.

What is the weirdest fact you know?
Sea otters have the most hair per square inch of all animals – over one million hairs in just one square inch!

What is your aim for this year?
Learn more about health care neurodevelopmental disabilities from multiple perspectives.

02/27/2026

We’d like to introduce you to Katie Henion, Social Work trainee. At the beginning of the year, we asked our trainees questions to get to know them better. Here are some of Katie’s answers:

What word would you like to be added to the dictionary, and what is the definition?
Snackum - just a little bite of food

What advice would you give your 12-year old self?
Be your own authentic self, unapologetically and unrelentingly

What is the weirdest fact you know?
Honeybees can actually recognize and remember human faces.

Would you rather meet your ancestors or descendants? Why?
I would rather meet my ancestors, to get to see all of the incredible women in my past who helped shape who I have become

What is your aim for this year?
I am hoping to learn as much as possible from my peers in other disciplines, and see how to best work among an interdisciplinary team once I am officially a social worker.

02/24/2026

Last night a UR LEND alumna, Nikolle Vanstralen was featured on News 8 showing the difference they are making with Special Olympics. Great work Nikolle!

A weekend celebrating athletes of varying abilities kicked off at the Tim Hortons Iceplex on Saturday. READ MORE, https://www.rochesterfirst.com/sports/friendship-festival-special-olympics-celebrate-inclusion-in-sports/

02/20/2026

Meet Rachel Blake, Audiology trainee. At the beginning of the year, we asked our trainees questions to get to know them better. Here are some of Rachel’s answers:

What is something that people would never guess just by looking at you?
I am a twin!

What word do you want to be added to the dictionary, and what is the definition?
“Girlies”: Not your average group of girls. Girlies are fun, cool, relatable friends that often present with a humble and down to earth spirit. Confidants to lean on and to share a laugh with.

Would you rather meet your ancestors or descendants? Why?
Ancestors- So that I can ask for elder wisdom

What do you wish you knew more about in the Disabilities world?
I wish I knew more about local and national resources I could refer patients to.

What does true leadership mean to you?
To remain calm within chaos and efficiently guide others. It is important to consider opinions of all involved.

02/13/2026

This is Ava Leboo, Occupational Therapy trainee. At the beginning of the year, we asked our trainees questions to get to know them better. Here are some of Ava’s answers:

What would you sing at Karaoke night?
Any one direction song–I know them all by heart.

What word do you want to be added to the dictionary, and what is the definition?
Snorific- when something is so boring it induces snoring

What would be the tagline to the sitcom of your life?
All the pieces fit in the end.

What is the weirdest fact you know?
Cows have best friends.

What is your aim for this year?
To gain greater confidence in my skills as a future OT and in my development as an individual, so I can better serve others with empathy and integrity.

02/06/2026

Meet Danielle Gary, Advocacy (and 2nd year) LEND trainee. At the beginning of the year, we asked our trainees questions to get to know them better. Here are some of Danielle’s answers:

What book or series did you wish you could live in?
Ted Lasso (Who couldn’t use a little more joy, optimism, and Roy Kent?)

Would you rather meet your ancestors or descendants? Why?
My ancestors. I’d love to hear their stories to understand more about my origins and the generational impact that has been a part of who I am.

If you could use magic to do one mundane task for the rest of your life, what would it be? (Bonus question: What would you name the spell?)
Opening and dealing with mail… Magicus Go-away-icus

What is the weirdest fact you know?
A day on Venus is longer than its year.

What is your aim for this year?
Aside from continuing to learn with and from other Fellows and our amazing faculty, I am thrilled to be focusing on disability policy and creating a network of LEND alumni!

01/30/2026

This is Angeline Hamele, Advocacy trainee. At the beginning of the year, we asked our trainees questions to get to know them better. Here are some of Angelines answers:

What word do you want to be added to the dictionary, and what is the definition?
Autastic: Describing the center of my current special interest (ex: Moo Deng the pygmy hippopotamus is autastic!)

Would you rather be the funniest or smartest person in the room? Why?
Ooh…maybe smartest? So I could have a fun fact for any topic?

What is the weirdest fact you know?
The little fold on a cat’s ear is called Henry’s Pocket and some believe it holds a cat’s hopes and dreams

What does true leadership mean to you?
True leadership to me means focusing on justice, community, and interdependence

What do you wish you knew more about in the Disabilities world?
I wish I knew more about intersecting disabled identities throughout history

01/23/2026

Meet Caroline Spink, a Nursing trainee. At the beginning of the year, we asked our trainees questions to get to know them better. Here are some of Caroline’s answers:

What book or series did you wish you could live in?
The Millennium Series – Stieg Larsson

What is something that people would never guess just by looking at you? I’ve flown an airplane before

Would you rather meet your ancestors or descendants? Why? I would rather meet my ancestors because I have always heard stories about how wonderful they were and never got to meet them. They also shaped my family into what it was, which was the reason I had the upbringing I did.

What is the weirdest fact you know? Octopuses have three hearts.

What does true leadership mean to you? True leadership means helping everyone thrive and be their best self.

01/16/2026

Meet Mary Javier, a Dental trainee. At the beginning of the year, we asked our trainees questions to get to know them better. Here are some of Mary’s answers:

What is something that people would never guess just by looking at you?
I really enjoy baking and I love finding new recipes to try

What word do you want to be added to the dictionary, and what is the definition?
Scrollapse – the mental shutdown that happens when you stop thinking critically as you scroll

What would you sing at Karaoke night?
Sweet Caroline – Neil Diamond

What aspect of your discipline do you enjoy most?
I really love the moment when a patient is excited to smile for the first time in a long time.

What do you wish you knew more about in the Disabilities world?
I want to know more about the options we can provide patients or caregivers of patients who are on the wait list for operating rooms or treatment.