Rabbi Dr. Ari Berman, President and Rosh Yeshiva | Yeshiva University
Rabbi Dr. Ari Berman, President and Rosh Yeshiva | Yeshiva University
On Sept. 16, Yeshiva University's Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology launched The Lemle Clinic, the nation's first clinic dedicated to assessing and treating Non-Verbal Learning Disorder (NVLD). Located in the Rousso Building at 1165 Morris Park Avenue in the Bronx, this initiative aims to advance care and understanding of NVLD.
The clinic was inaugurated by several notable figures including New York State Senator Nathalia Fernandez, Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, and Councilwoman Kristy Marmorato. The Lemle Clinic coordinator Gregory Inzinna, Dr. Arlene “Lu” Steinberg, Chair of the Ferkauf Board of Overseers, Dr. Leslie Halpern, Dean of YU's Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology, David Miller, Ariel Miller, Paula Dennis, executive director of The NVLD Project; Dr. Selma Botman, YU's Provost; Andrew Lauer, YU's Vice President for Legal Affairs and General Counsel; and Jon Greenfield, YU's Assistant Vice President of Government Relations were also present.
NVLD is a neurodevelopmental disorder marked by cognitive challenges such as visual-spatial integration difficulties and motor-skill deficits. Individuals with NVLD often face social barriers due to a lack of recognition and specialized care. This new clinic aims to address these challenges through comprehensive assessment and treatment services tailored for individuals with NVLD.
Dr. Laura Lemle is the lead donor for the clinic and founder of The NVLD Project—a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness about NVLD. Her personal experience with her daughter’s diagnosis inspired her vision for the clinic. “Many clinicians not only have never heard about NVLD but also do not know how to treat this disorder,” said Dr. Lemle. “The clinic and the educational curriculum at Ferkauf graduate school are going to begin to change all that."
The Lemle Clinic features three assessment/treatment rooms, a family conference room, a waiting area, teaching spaces for research and education purposes along with a seminar room adjacent for instructing graduate students on assessing and treating individuals with NVLD.
Dr. Leslie Halpern emphasized the importance of this initiative: "The shortage of services for individuals with NVLD is largely due to the limited number of mental health and educational professionals who are knowledgeable about this disorder," she stated.
Ferkauf has incorporated NVLD-focused education programs into its Master's and Doctoral curriculum reflecting its commitment to preparing future professionals equipped to support individuals with NVLD effectively.
Additionally, Ferkauf plans on developing a certificate program addressing psychological needs specific to developmental learning disabilities focusing on NVLD while collaborating with The NVLD Project on advancing research efforts.
For more information about The Lemle Clinic visit www.yu.edu/ferkauf or contact them at (646) 592-4540 or lemleclinic@hushmail.com.
___
Alerts Sign-up