LEND Boston

☀️ LEND Resource Round-Up: 2026 Summer Community & Recreation Guide ☀️

Finding accessible, engaging summer programming can be a challenge for neurodivergent individuals and their families. This month's Resource Round-Up highlights the BMC Autism Program Summer Resource Guide 2026, a comprehensive toolkit created by the Autism Program at Boston Medical Center.

📋 Inside the Guide:

☑️ Inclusive Summer Camps

☑️ Adaptive Sports Programs

☑️ Family-Friendly Activities

☑️ Adult Resources

📥 Download and Share the Resource: 👉https://www.bmc.org/sites/default/files/Patient_Care/Specialty_Care/Pediatrics%20-%20Autism/resources/BMC-Autism-Program-Summer-Guide-2026.pdf

The Autism Program at Boston Medical Center is hosting its virtual conference, "AUTISM ACROSS THE LIFESPAN: Deepening Your Professional Competency".
Join for a full day of multidisciplinary insights, practical strategies, and lived expertise designed to strengthen your professional practice.

📅 Event Details:
Date & Time: August 5th, 2026 | 9:30 AM – 3:00 PM EST
Format: Fully Virtual
CEUs Offered: Available per session for Social Work, Nursing, and BACB ACE CE.
Key Topics: Autism-friendly practices, navigating a new diagnosis, supporting transition-age youth, and adult independence.
Special Highlight: A dedicated panel discussion on Lived Experiences with Autistic Individuals.

Secure your spot today by scanning the QR code or by clicking the link below! 👇
👉 https://form.jotform.com/251243924570051

For questions, contact [email protected].
Visit www.bmc.org/autism to learn more about the BMC Autism Program.

We are proud to introduce our very first LEND Alumni Spotlight! 🌟

This month, we are proud to spotlight two amazing individuals whose partnership exemplifies the LEND mission: Melissa Levin, MSW, LICSW, a former Boston Children’s Hospital LEND fellow, and Naomi Dogan, PhD, licensed psychologist, certified neurodiversity life coach, self-advocate, and LEND community partner.

Their connection began with the Neuro-Inclusive Oncology Care and Empowerment program at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and has evolved from a clinician-client relationship into a powerful collaboration. Together, they are working to reinvent how the healthcare system views and treats neurodivergent individuals, advising providers to move away from being “autism-adjacent” to become true autism allies.

Melissa and Naomi’s collaboration is a powerful example of forging alliances between providers and those with lived experience to improve the lives of individuals with disabilities across the entire lifespan.

Read the full story to hear more from Melissa and Naomi!

☀LEND Alumni Spotlight ☀

The LEND program has always been about strengthening the advocacy skills necessary to challenge and eliminate systemic inequities.

For our first alumni spotlight, we are proud to showcase Melissa Levin, MSW, LICSW, and Naomi Dogan, PhD. Their connection evolved from a clinician-client relationship into a powerful collaboration aimed at reinventing how the healthcare system views and treats neurodivergent individuals.

As Naomi noted, this means moving from individual accommodations to Universal Design so providers become "autism allies" looking at the whole picture.

Read the full article to hear more from Melissa and Naomi!

Don't forget to join us on LinkedIn! 💼✨

If you haven't already, take a quick second to follow our official LinkedIn page. It’s a great place to connect with the LEND Boston network, catch alumni spotlights, and share professional resources.

Follow us here: https://www.linkedin.com/company/112589786 📲

LinkedIn Login, Sign in | LinkedIn Login to LinkedIn to keep in touch with people you know, share ideas, and build your career.

📢 LEND Resource Round-Up📢

Looking for a trusted starting point to find special needs resources or emotional support right here in MassachLooking for a trusted starting point to find special needs resources or emotional support right here in Massach ? 🧩

Meet Family TIES of MA (Together In Enhancing Support).

Run by parents of children with complex medical needs and disabilities, they take the guesswork out of finding community care. Whether you are navigating a new diagnosis or trying to find inclusive summer activities, they have you covered.

What they offer:

A-Z Directory: A comprehensive guide to statewide, regional, and local MA resources.

Peer Support: True parent-to-parent matching for shared connection and guidance.

Navigation Assistance: Your link to Early Intervention and local family support networks.

No matter where you are on your family’s journey, you don't have to walk it alone. 💙

💻 Visit: https://www.massfamilyties.org/
📞 Call: 800-905-TIES

Act Now: Ask Your Legislators to Encourage Ways and Means to Prioritize Healthcare Standards!

People with autism and/or IDD face health disparities. This common-sense bill will create an advisory committee to establish a state plan to standardize diagnosis, care, and treatment and improve education for healthcare providers.

Contact your legislators: https://thearcofmass.quorum.us/campaign/163685/

Some upcoming activities in the community to share!

Happy Work-a-Versary to Yourlanda, our admin extraordinaire, who is celebrating 40 years at B*H!

🌟 LEND Resource Roundup: Financial Relief for Complex Medical Expenses 🌟
When a child faces a severe or chronic medical condition, out-of-pocket costs add up fast, even with good health insurance.

This week, we’re highlighting a vital Massachusetts safety net: the Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund (CICRF).

💡 What is the CICRF?
Managed by the Dept. of Public Health, this fund helps families cover large, uncovered medical expenses. It acts as a payer of last resort for costs insurance leaves behind.

📋 Who is Eligible?
Age: Child/young adult under age 22 when expenses were incurred.

Residency: Permanent Massachusetts resident.

Financials: Out-of-pocket expenses must exceed 10% of the first $100,000 of your household income (and 15% of any income above that) within a 24-month period.

🛠️ What Expenses Can It Cover?
Approved on a case-by-case basis, the fund can help reimburse:

👉Hospital/physician care and therapy sessions (PT/OT/SLP)
👉Prescriptions and disposable medical supplies
👉Medical equipment, home modifications, and accessible vehicles
👉Medical transportation costs

💻 How to Apply
You can apply online, save your progress, and upload documents (like receipts and tax forms) at your own pace.

👉 Program Overview: https://www.mass.gov/catastrophic-illness-in-children-relief-fund-cicrf

📧 Questions? Contact the fund at (617) 624-5951 or email [email protected].