We are being watched...

...this morning we had a visitor.  He is observing our family interactions as part of his  URLEND training.  URLEND stands for Utah Regional Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and related Disabilities....yes, that is a mouthful...I have put more about this project down below.  Also, you can click on the link above and go to their website.  IF you want more information, let me know...I would be happy to share.

Mark did well despite being "watched".  We got started a little late because I was busy talking with URLEND trainee.  I did not ask to use their name so I am going to leave it out for now...

am 
I am happy. 
three went did pleases
Shells are at the beach. A refrigerator i...

Welcome to the URLEND Program

The Utah Regional LEND, or URLEND, is a LEND (Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and related Disabilities) training program that covers five states: Utah, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming and North Dakota. Our program uses state-of-the-art technology to connect groups of trainees across our partner states. Professionals are trained to move beyond discipline boundaries to provide optimal services to child and adolescents with special health care needs. Because families are essential to well-being, this program emphasizes the role of family-centered care in all we do.

Their is a LEND program in most states.  When I went to Washington DC last spring, I spoke to my Congressmen about the importance of supporting the LEND program.  If I remember correctly, funding for the LEND program is linked to the Combating Autism Act (which I think has been re-named...)  

The name of the program that we are participating is the Family Mentorship Project:

The Family Mentorship Project is designed to provide URLEND trainees with a better understanding of the impact of a child with special health care needs on his or her family’s life.

Through completion of the Family Mentorship Project, URLEND trainees will:

v  Experience the day-to-day life of a family who has a child with special health care needs

v  Gain a better understanding of how children with special health care needs and their families function at home and in the community

v  Understand the impact a child with special healthcare needs may have on the entire family

v  Recognize similarities between families with and without special health care needs

v  Hear about a family’s successes and challenges in accessing community resources, partnering with professionals, and advocating for their child within educational, health, and other service and support systems

v  Acknowledge the importance of cultural and linguistic competence

v  Gain increased knowledge of the principles of interdisciplinary, family-centered, and culturally-competent care

v  Reflect on how he or she can be a better professional based on experiences gleaned from observations and perspectives shared by families