UM Launches Montana’s First Leadership Program for Neurodevelopmental Disabilities

The University of Montana secured a $2.3 million federal grant to launch a pioneering leadership training program.

UM has initiated Montana’s first in-house Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Other Related Disabilities (LEND) program, aiming to improve healthcare outcomes for individuals with autism and related disabilities through multidisciplinary training.

Funded for five years, the program offers 300 hours of comprehensive training annually, combining seminars, field observations, and group projects. It involves graduate students, community providers, and people with lived experience of disability, working under the Rural Institute’s umbrella. The inaugural cohort began training on November 6, 2026, with applications for the 2027-28 cycle opening in spring. Key faculty and staff include Leah Meloy and Molly Kimmel, who emphasize the program’s role in addressing systemic healthcare barriers.

Applications will open in spring for the next cohort.

Montana’s expansive geography and rural population may amplify the program’s impact by fostering locally tailored leadership in neurodevelopmental healthcare. This initiative could serve as a model for addressing service gaps in other rural states, where dispersed communities face similar challenges in accessing specialized care.

UM Secures $2.3M Grant to Launch Neurodevelopmental Disability Training Program
By Laura Scheer, University of Montana