September 2025 through April 2026
Families and future professionals in the USD LEND (interdisciplinary leadership program) will be matched to share in some of the lived experiences of families, expanding and elevating the perspective of these future providers. Dozens of families have served in these rewarding roles over the years. You are invited to join this effort.
If you are a parent of a child with a neurodevelopmental disability* AND live in southeastern South Dakota (Brookings, Sioux Falls, Beresford, Yankton, Vermillion, Brandon, Dell Rapids, Dakota Dunes and surrounding communities) you can impact future medical and service professionals by helping them experience and understand the family perspective.
*Developmental disabilities are a wide group of conditions due to an impairment in physical, learning, language, or behavior areas. These conditions begin during the developmental period, may impact day-to-day functioning, and usually last throughout a person’s lifetime. Specific conditions include (but are not limited to ) ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, Fragile X Syndrome, Hearing Loss, Kernicterus, Muscular Dystrophy, Tourette Syndrome, and Vision Impairment.
If you are interested in participating, please complete this short form and South Dakota Parent Connection will follow up with you. Confidentiality/privacy of family information will be honored. Participating families are free to opt out at any time.
If you have any questions, please contact Betsy Drew at bdrew@sdparent.org or call (800) 640-4553.
