Family Consultant Fellowship

Family as a Discipline

Over the past decade there has been an emerging role in LEND programs for a family faculty member to provide interdisciplinary teams with an invaluable perspective in the scope of their training: the perspective of the family. This role is unique in that the experience of being a family member or parent of an individual with a developmental disability cannot be learned in any university course.

At OHSU we welcome family-professional partnership in the care of children with disabilities. The LEND family trainee (a parent or family member of a child with a disability) will learn how to work side by side with clinically trained staff as both 'teacher and student'.

Trainees participate in LEND Interdisciplinary Seminars for two hours on Thursday afternoons, September through May. Seminar content includes neurodevelopmental disabilities, family-centered care, research, policy and advocacy. Trainees also spend one day of the week rotating through various Child Development and Rehabilitation Center clinics. A research project and leadership opportunities are all part of our multidisciplinary training program.

Because we realize caring for a special needs child is all consuming, we offer this as a part-time (two days per week) opportunity. A small stipend is awarded.

More information on activities Family Discipline trainees is available by contacting:

Shelley Barnes
Family Involvement coordinator
Oregon Health Science University/ CDRC
707 SW Gaines Rd; Portland, OR
Phone: 503-494-0864
Email: barnessh@ohsu.edu