How LEND training shaped a Waisman CASC clinician’s approach to inclusive care and communication access
Communication is fundamental for participating in society. Without it, people struggle greatly to get their needs met, interact with others, and be a part of the world around them. Rebecca Stroschein, MS, CCC-SLP, speech language pathologist in Waisman’s Communication Aids and Systems Clinic (CASC), realized while volunteering as an undergraduate student at a non-profit for autistic adults, that she held a deep passion for helping others find a form of communication that works for them so that they can have access to their community.
After completing her graduate studies in speech therapy, Stroschein then had to find a nine-to 12-month fellowship program as the final part of her training. She had two things in particular she was looking for in a fellowship. The first was a focus in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) work. “That’s a big part of what drew me to this fellowship at the Waisman Center. It is such a specialized program that my entire caseload is all communication device work,” Stroschein says. The second was a LEND program.
Turning passion into progress: How former LEND trainee Ashlee Parker helps young students thrive
For Ashlee Parker, OTD, the magic of her work lies in the little victories – like a child using their augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) device to ask for bubbles, or a child being able to join morning meeting in their kindergarten class by sitting in a makeshift “car” on the carpet. “I had a kiddo who struggled to participate in morning meeting with their peers. So, I created a little car out of a five-gallon bin and a cushion for them to sit in so they could more easily sit at the carpet,” Parker says. “It’s all those little things that make my job super rewarding and exciting.”
For Parker, LEND was where she learned crucial skills that she still utilizes today. LEND combines classes, clinical experiences, panels, case-based learning, research experience, and mentorship to give each student the ability to be a capable advocate across a variety of situations. Parker says she has always been outspoken and passionate but before LEND she didn’t know how to channel those abilities in a way that could create meaningful change. “Telling stories is how you get people to buy in to what you’re advocating for,” Parker says. “LEND provided a lot of specific training on how to advocate using those stories and how to express myself in ways that make real change.”
WI LEND Alumna wins Friends of the Waisman Center Award
The Friends of the Waisman Center present seven awards each year to Waisman students, staff, and and family volunteers. The awards acknowledge outstanding achievements by students, exceptional job performance, skills, and accomplishments of staff, and significant contributions by family volunteers.
Gina Sylvester was a graduate student in occupational therapy who graduated in spring 2025. She was a trainee in the Waisman LEND program which stands for Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and related Disabilities. For her capstone project she created research-based and accessible resources for families on play and cerebral palsy. She was nominated for this award by Jaclyn Bender, an OT and clinician with the Waisman Center Clinics and LEND program.
Leading by example: Brooke Mortensen, NP
Brooke Mortensen, NP, always wanted to be a nurse. “I’ve always enjoyed science but I also love human interaction and connection. I feel that nursing really embodies those two spirits equally,” Mortensen says. Today, she is a pediatric nurse practitioner at UW Health American Family Children’s Hospital in the Complex Care Program. The UW Health Complex Care Program is designed for children with medical complexity to help manage their care and support the family through the various stressors they face. And without the WI LEND Program, Mortensen says she wouldn’t be where she is today.
Then it was through connections she made during LEND that Mortensen first learned about the Pediatric Complex Care Program at UW Health. Without the training she received
through WI LEND, she says she would have been unlikely to get her current job. “I would not be where I am today,” Mortensen says.
When asked about her biggest takeaways from the training program, Mortensen has two answers: remembering how resilient families are, and the importance of language. “One of the mantras I developed from LEND is that families are navigating a world that is not built for their child, and often exceeding expectations while doing it.” Mortensen says.
From Lived Experience to Leadership: Jack Hoselton’s Advocacy Journey with WI LEND
Jack Hoselton strives to improve society for people with disabilities. His own lived experience as a man with autism gives him an understanding of the disability world, its strengths and its challenges. Still, he wanted to learn more about other individuals’ experiences, and how to advocate for himself and for others. The Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) Program is giving him the tools, knowledge, and confidence he needs to do this.
Everyone comes to LEND with unique perspectives and expertise, and the interdisciplinary nature of the program allows trainees to not only grow in their own areas of expertise, but also gain a better understanding of other fields and how they can work together. “Working with these different disciplines, I feel like there’s something to be said about the ability to not only connect with these people, but also share ideas,” Hoselton says. Part of the advocacy work, he explains, starts with exchanging ideas with professionals about how to improve things like the diagnostic process, or how they treat people with disabilities. “I feel like it starts with making the connections I’ve made with the different people in the different disciplines. I feel like that’s a huge part of LEND that I really enjoyed,” Hoselton says.
Cindy Petros, 2021 WI LEND OT Graduate
Cindy Petros is a 2021 occupational therapy (OT) graduate of WI LEND—a parent of a child with special healthcare needs and self-advocate for better inclusion of students with disabilities in higher education.
Stasia Wilson, 2021 WI LEND Disability Advocacy Graduate
Stasia Wilson is a 2021 Disability Advocacy graduate. Through WI LEND, Stasia mentored young children who use an augmentative communication device. Her main goal is to inspire them to talk through their communication devices during her time with the kids. “I achieve this by talking to them through my machine.” That strategy has been successful; their parents expressed that was the most they saw their kids talk. Seeing successful AAC users gives the children hope and a role model.
