Indiana LEND at IU School of Medicine

07/24/2026

The recall applies to certain Pumpkin Tree Peter Rabbit Organics Banana & Strawberry pouches sold at Target, Kroger and Meijer stores nationwide.

07/15/2026

Sharing from an Indiana BMV newsletter:

The Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) is pleased to announce that parents and caregivers of children or adults with specific, diagnosed levels of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are now eligible to receive a disability parking placard. We recognize that assisting individuals with autism in busy parking lots can be difficult and potentially unsafe. Having access to disability parking will help families and caregivers park closer to building entrances, reducing risk and making outings safer and more manageable.

Eligibility
Parents or caregivers may apply for a disability placard on behalf of an individual diagnosed with:

Level 2 Autism Spectrum Disorder (“requiring substantial support”), or
Level 3 Autism Spectrum Disorder (“requiring very substantial support”).
Applying for the Disability Placard
Parents or caregivers will need to complete an Application for Disability License Plate or Parking Placard (State Form 42070).
https://forms.in.gov/Download.aspx?id=5031

Section 1 should be completed using the individual living with autism's information. Section 2 should be completed with the caregiver's information.

Who Can Sign State Form 42070?
Section 4, The professional certification section of Indiana’s disability placard application (State Form 42070), may be completed by:
A physician with a valid and unrestricted license to practice medicine.
A physician who is a commissioned medical officer of the armed forces of the United States or the United States Public Health Service.
A physician who is a medical officer of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.
A chiropractor with a valid and unrestricted license under Indiana Code 25-10-1. A podiatrist with a valid and unrestricted license under Indiana Code 25-29-1.
An advanced practice registered nurse with a valid and unrestricted license under Indiana Code 25-23.
A physician assistant with a valid and unrestricted license under Indiana Code 25-27.5.
An optometrist or ophthalmologist with a valid and unrestricted license to practice optometry or ophthalmology in Indiana.

Next Steps for the Parent or Guardian
The applicant must sign all required areas of the application.
Since the applicant is a minor or an adult who cannot sign, a parent may sign on their behalf—no power of attorney is needed.
If someone else is signing for a disabled applicant, they must provide:
Documentation granting signing authority (such as power of attorney or guardianship papers),
Their position of authority printed next to the signature (e.g., “parent/guardian” or “POA”), and
A state issued driver’s license or identification card.

Questions or Concerns
Any questions or concerns can be emailed to the BMV Registrations department. [email protected]

06/25/2026

We couldn’t have said it any better!

Stephan Viehweg, MSW, LCSW, has spent nearly 40 years shaping social work at the IU School of Medicine while advancing children’s futures across Indiana.

06/24/2026

The Indiana LEND resides within the IUSM Pediatrics Division of Developmental Medicine, which has just announced a change in the Co-Division Chief. Read more about our amazing leaders!

After serving the IU Department of Pediatrics as Co-Division Chief of Developmental Medicine since 2021, Angela Tomlin, PhD, will transition out of the role at the end of this month. We look forward to her continued contributions to our team, as she will remain a valued member of our faculty.

Dr. Tomlin is a Professor of Clinical Pediatrics and Director of the Indiana Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) Program. She also served as Chief of Child Development from 2012 to 2021, prior to its merger with the Division of Developmental Pediatrics to form Developmental Medicine.

Throughout her tenure, Dr. Tomlin has provided clinical services to families of children with neurodevelopmental disabilities, supervised graduate trainees and provided reflective consultation to community members. An expert on topics including autism, behavior management and infant mental health, Dr. Tomlin has been a driving force in Developmental Medicine. She has helped lead the division's faculty expansion and growth of patient access and clinical locations.

We are happy to share that Rebecca McNally Keehn, PhD, will assume the role of Co-Division Chief of Developmental Medicine on July 1, working closely with Co-Division Chief Celanie Christensen, MS, MD. Dr. McNally is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the IU School of Medicine.

She also serves as the Associate Director of Health Systems and Policy in Children’s Health Services Research and the Co-Director of the Early Autism Evaluation Hub System. An NIH-funded autism health services researcher, Dr. McNally has already made a tremendous impact in her field both in Indiana and beyond. Most recently, she was recognized for her contributions to autism research as a recipient of the 2026 Indy’s Best and Brightest Award in the Health & Life Sciences category.

Please join me in thanking Dr. Tomlin for her dedicated service and welcoming Dr. McNally into this new leadership role.

05/19/2026

Coming on June 16th, The Children's Museum of Indianapolis is having an extended-hours event for visitors with disabilities and/or sensory sensitivities. We celebrate this collaboration with our OT faculty and learners!

05/11/2026

We are actively interviewing for next year's LEND cohort! We currently still have openings for the following trainee disciplines: BCBA, Education, Physician Assistants, Nursing, Public Health, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Family, and Persons with a disability. Learn more and apply:

The Indiana LEND program, housed within the Division of Developmental Medicine, provides an interdisciplinary training experience that prepares graduate and post graduate professionals from numerous health, education and related disciplines to deliver high quality services which result in improved s...

04/20/2026

***Updated location!*** Looking forward to seeing folks on Friday!

03/30/2026

We’re incredibly proud of Mel, one of our very first LEND self‑advocate trainees, whose leadership and powerful voice helped pave the way for others!

Melody Cooper is a familiar face in Self-Advocates of Indiana and at The Arc of Indiana. Her journey hasn't been straightforward, but she's always known what she wanted: a career of her own, where she was in charge.

Mel is the self-advocacy specialist for The Arc and is the current region 5 representative of Self-Advocates Becoming Empowered, or SABE. She regularly attends events like the Disability Policy Seminar and trains other Self-Advocates on how they, too, can create the career they love.

To learn more about Mel's journey, click here: https://www.indianadisabilityhistory.org/exhibits/show/sai/item/117 #

03/25/2026

The deadline for applying for Camp Riley is coming soon!

Application deadline for Camp Riley at Bradford Woods is Sunday, March 29! 🚨

Each summer, more than 300 campers with physical and cognitive diagnoses make their “home away from home” at one of several Camp Riley sessions, enjoying facilities and activities that are designed to be barrier-free.

Sign your child up today: bit.ly/47mFx0T

03/18/2026

Come celebrate with us!