top of page

LEND is a training program for graduate students and Self-Advocates and family members. It is a leadership program that prepares future leaders to support and work with children with disabilities and their families. It includes both didactic (classroom) teaching and learning by experience. This is done through focusing on care that is appropriate for families and respecting people’s cultures. LEND also focuses on public health services and policy change. It encourages people from many backgrounds to learn to work together. LEND is based at University of Miami School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics.
 

LEND's signature program for self-advocates is Project SALT (Project Self Advocate Leadership Training). SALTS's vision is to produce an ever-growing cadre of individuals with disabilities with the capacity for self-determination, independence and the ability to participate in their communities in meaningful ways. We teach a leadership skills curriculum to individuals with disabilities so that they can learn strategies to advocate for themselves, others and affect larger systems change. The main outcomes of our program are: to increase the knowledge of self-directed decision making, increase community involvement, join self-advocacy organizations or support groups, increase knowledge of serving on boards, increase knowledge of the legislative process and are mentoring other Self-Advocates. The 3-day intensive curriculum engages a small of group of ten individuals with varying disabilities over age 22 in experiential learning, practical skill building activities and dynamic interactions with established and emerging community leaders.
 
The Emerging Transformational Leadership Program (ETLP) is our more advanced leadership program, and may include graduates of SALT. The year-long curriculum engages a small group of  early to mid-level professionals in experiential learning in the community, practical skills building activities, and dynamic interactions with established and emerging community leaders.  A group project encourages participants to learn to harness the full potential of individuals and groups in our community, to foster relationships that bridge diversity on many levels, and to create innovative, sustaining solutions to the complex issues that face the disability community in South Florida.
 
Graduates of these and similar programs are also eligible to be part of our Mailman Advisory Council (MAC). The MAC meets quarterly to help shape the future of the Mailman Center research, training, and clinical programs.
 
All of these leadership training opportunities have an application process and some require a nomination for admission.
 
For more information, please contact Shelly Baer, LCSW, Director, Leadership Training Initiatives at rbaer@med.miami.edu or 305 689-7058.

​

Get social with us!
  • Facebook Social Icon
Have a question or just want to share your thoughts? Email us at
contactflsand@gmail.com

​© 2025 Florida Self-Advocacy Central

Florida Self-Advocacy Central is the news and information arm of Florida Self-Advocates Network'D or FL SAND

Join our mailing list

This project is provided by the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council, Inc., supported in part by grant numbers 2301FLSCDD and 2401FLSCDD from the U.S. Administration for Community Living (ACL), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Washington, D.C. 20201 as part of financial assistance awards totaling $8,889,783 with 100% funded by ACL/HHS. Grantees undertaking projects with government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official ACL policy and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by ACL/HHS or the U.S. Government.

bottom of page