University of Rochester LEND

05/22/2025

On Friday May 9th, UR LEND graduates gathered in person with LEND faculty, family, and local politicians to celebrate their accomplishments. Congratulations and good luck as you take what you have learned and use it to make a difference in the lives of individuals with disabilities.

05/05/2025

Last week, the International Society for Autism Research (INSAR) held its Annual Meeting in Seattle, Washington . The event featured presentations, workshops, and networking opportunities for autism researchers. Current UR LEND fellows Christina Layton, Alesia Richardson, and Danielle Gary had the amazing opportunity to present at the conference. Congratulations!

05/01/2025

This is Camryn Branciforte, Social Work trainee. At the beginning of the year, we asked our trainees questions to get to know them better. Here are some of Camryn’s answers:

If you could eat only 1 meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Nachos

What is something that people would never guess just by looking at you?
I coach two sports! Soccer and lacrosse.

What is the weirdest fact you know?
I know all the universal produce codes.

What would you sing at Karaoke night?
Our Song by Taylor Swift

What do you wish you knew more about in the Disabilities world?
I wish I knew more about the process of determining diagnosis to supporting families access funding/other resources.

04/24/2025

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

If you could eat only 1 meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Steak, potatoes, and broccoli

What is something that people would never guess just by looking at you?
I have traveled by car to 47 of the 50 states

What is the weirdest fact you know?
A human ear is as unique as a fingerprint- and can be used to identify an individual (and even tell the difference between twins)

What is your aim for this year?
To find a healthy balance with everything I do

What do you wish you knew more about in the Disabilities world?
I wish I knew more about community resources and programs

04/21/2025

On Friday, April 18th, 2025, UR LEND fellows traveled to Seneca Art & Culture Center at Ganondagan State Historic Site. While there, our fellows listened to a panel discussion with Spencer Lyons (Onondaga Hawk Clan, Chief), Andrea Cooke (Onondaga Deer Clan, Clan Mother), Barbara Jimerson (Onondaga Deer Clan, Faith Keeper), Simone Gonyea (Onondaga Snipe Clan, UR Project Coordinator), and Christina Mulé (Pediatric Psychologist, Associate Professor of Pediatrics). Panel members shared about Onondaga culture, Indigenous perspectives on disability, and strategies to enhance partnership to improve healthcare accessiblity. Fellows used their hands to make corn husk dolls and received a traditional Indigenous lunch prepared by Deloris Thompson (Onondaga Hawk Clan, Faith Keeper) on departure.

04/17/2025

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

What advice would you give your 12-year-old self?
You can do hard things!

What is something that you’ve done that really intimidated you, but paid off in the end?
I embarked on a journey of self-discovery a year after my son was diagnosed with autism and recently applied to graduate school. Whether I get in or not, I am proud of myself for following my dreams.

What is your favorite quote?
“No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it’s not the same river and he’s not the same man.” Heraclitus

What is your aim for this year?
I would like to make a true impact on IDD policies, connect with more people with disabilities, parents of children with IDD, and like-minded professionals.

04/16/2025

Check out the amazing work of LEND Alum Emily Isenstein.

Researchers at the Golisano Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Institute find new clues to how people with autism process touch.

04/10/2025

Earlier this week UR LEND faculty and fellows attended the Disability Policy Seminar in Washington DC. This conference, held annually every spring, helps strengthen our fellow’s advocacy efforts by having people from across the country come to together to receive training and amplifies the concerns of people with I/DD. On the last day of the conference, our faculty and fellows met with legislators to talk about the significant impact of Medicaid for the disability community. Trainees are learning to advocate on the local, state, and even federal level.

04/03/2025

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

What is something that people would never guess just by looking at you?
People would never guess that I am scared of heights.

What aspect of your discipline do you enjoy most?
The aspect that I enjoy the most about audiology is helping patients and their families meet communication goals that can bring them closer together. Communication makes a big difference in a person’s quality of life!

What do you wish you knew more about in the Disabilities world?
I wish I knew more about the perspectives of those with disabilities as they navigate the healthcare system.

If you could meet any historical figure, who would it be and why?
If I could meet any historical figure, it would be Marie Curie. Meeting her would be so inspirational.

03/31/2025

On Friday, UR LEND fellows went to United Access on West Henrietta Road to learn about accessible vehicles. They were given a tour of the facility and were able to see the inside of some of the vans and touch the equipment to see how it functions. They also learned about custom made vans and that United Access rents them as well. An invaluable experience for our UR LEND fellows.

03/27/2025

This is Lauren Fenton, Social Work 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:

Would you rather meet your ancestors or descendants? Why?
Ancestors, I don’t want to know the future, I’d rather learn from the past and shape the future.

What is your favorite quote?
“Success is not the absence of failure; it’s the persistence through failure.”

What would you do tomorrow if you won a million dollars today?
Talk to a financial advisor and get a lawyer.

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

What aspect of your discipline do you enjoy most?
I enjoy working with people. I’m a creative and strategic thinker; it feels good to use these skills in partnership with the folks I serve.

03/20/2025

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

What would you sing at Karaoke night?
“Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor.

Would you rather meet your ancestors or descendants? Why?
I would rather meet my descendants to see how the values and knowledge I’ve passed down have influenced future generations, and to learn about the advancements and changes in society.

Would you rather be the funniest or smartest person in the room? Why?
I’d rather be the smartest person in the room because knowledge is a powerful tool that can inspire, lead, and solve complex problems. With knowledge, you can also bring humor and joy to others.

What is the weirdest fact you know?
Octopuses have three hearts. Two pump blood to the gills, while the third pumps it to the rest of the body. This fact always surprises people when they hear it!

What do you wish you knew more about in the Disabilities world?
I wish I knew more about the intersection of disability and technology, particularly how AR/VR technologies can be developed and used ethically to empower individuals with disabilities without reinforcing biases or creating new barriers.