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PORTLAND, Maine

LEND Training Director Kathryn Loukas honored with practitioner award from the Autism Society of Maine

Kathryn Loukas, Shenna Bellows and Kim Humphrey
Kathryn Loukas, Shenna Bellows and Kim Humphrey at the Autism Society of Maine annual meeting

The Maine Leadership Education for Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) program was honored to have Training Director Kathryn Loukas, O.T.D., M.S., OTR/L, FAOTA, clinical professor of Occupational Therapy at the University of New England, receive a prestigious award at the Autism Society of Maine’s annual meeting.

Former LEND trainee and Autism Society of Maine President, Laurie Raymond, presented the practitioner award, which recognizes Loukas’ outstanding professional contributions to the Autism Community of Maine through her work as an occupational therapist and LEND training director. Loukas worked in occupational therapy practice and research to champion the important transition from student to adult roles for youth on the autism spectrum. She has also been a leader in the community through events such as the annual evidence-based practice for people with autism expo and the Portland Seadogs autism awareness game. More recently, Loukas and Raymond have advocated for the needs of children and families on the autism spectrum through public policy initiatives.

LEND faculty members Stephen Meister, M.D., Nancy Cronin and Nancy Ponzetti-Dyer, Ph.D., were also honored with awards during the October 6, 2017 ceremony at the Augusta Country Club in Manchester, Maine. State Senator Shenna Bellows (D-Manchaster) delivered the keynote presentation and Maine LEND trainee and disability advocate Kim Humphrey also attended the event.

To learn more about the Maine LEND program, visit

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About the University of New England

The É«ÏãÊÓƵis Maine’s largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of . In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state’s top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine’s only medical college, Maine’s only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.