Press contact:
Linda J. Walder,
551-206-3333 or
Kerry Magro 201-360-7819
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
THE DANIEL JORDAN FIDDLE FOUNDATION LEADER IN ADULT AUTISM AWARD WILL BE PRESENTED TO DR. KERRY MAGRO at AUTISM SOCIETY OF AMERICA’S ANNUAL CONFERENCE JULY 9-11
ASA Conference Also Hosts Breakout Session
SPONSORED BY
THE DANIEL JORDAN FIDDLE FOUNDATION
Charleston, SC (June 3, 2019) – Dr. Kerry Magro, America’s newest EdD, Best-selling author, award-winning professional speaker and Founder of KFM Making A Difference will accept the 2019 Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation Leader in Adult Autism Award during the Autism Society of America’s 51th annual conference to be held this year in Bethesda, Maryland July 9-11.
The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation (DJFF) was founded in 2002 as the nation’s first autism organization focused exclusively on adults. Foundation President Linda Walder established the organization’s namesake award in 2016, together with Scott Badesch, President/CEO of the Autism Society of America (ASA), to recognize an inspirational person, service provider, or employer in the field of adult autism to encourage all individuals diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and their families to dream big and roll up their sleeves to create options for employment, housing and leisure activities that open doors to full and productive lives.
From her Charleston, South Carolina office Walder said: “The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation Leader in Adult Autism Award presented annually at the Autism Society of America’s national conference furthers our mission to inspire individuals diagnosed with ASD their families, and the community at large to not be limited in their aspirations for attaining their best lives. We believe it is a matter of human rights that each person is valued as a member of society.”
The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation Leader in Adult Autism Award is a meaningful collaboration between the Foundation and the Autism Society of America as both organizations share an abiding respect for the lifelong rights of all individuals diagnosed with ASD. The Autism Society’s national conference is world-renowned as the premier autism event for individuals, professionals and families. The Autism Society of America, founded in 1965, is a leading national autism advocacy, resource, and family support organization whose mission is to increase public awareness about the day-to-day issues faced by people diagnosed with ASD.
According to Scott Badesch, President/CEO of the Autism Society of America, ”We are so grateful for our partnership with The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation including their sponsorship of the Foundation’s Leader in Adult Autism Award, which recognizes the best in adult services for individuals on the autism spectrum.”
Dr. Magro was completely nonverbal at 2.5 and diagnosed with severe autism at 4. After years of occupational, speech, theater, music and theater therapy Dr. Magro was able to overcome many of his obstacles to now be a professionally certified speaker. Today as an adult he wears many hats in the disability community. His nonprofit KFM Making A Difference hosts inclusion events and has provided 68 scholarships for students with autism for college. His popular Facebook Page called A Special Community now has over 175,000 Facebook followers where he does on-camera interviews highlighting people impacted by a diagnosis to break down barriers for those impacted by a diagnosis. His educational videos have been watched over 30 Million times. His love of theater led him to pursue disability film consulting where he was able to work on the 2012 film Joyful Noise and the 2015 film Jane Wants A Boyfriend. Dr. Magro attended Seton Hall University for his undergraduate and masters degrees and graduated in 2019 at New Jersey City University to become a Doctor of Education in Educational Technology Leadership.
His best-selling books Defining Autism From The Heart, Autism and Falling in Love and I Will Light It Up Blue! have all reached Amazon Best-Seller Lists for Special Needs Parenting.
According to Dr. Magro, ”I am deeply honored to be the 2019 recipient of The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation Leader in Adult Autism Award. The work I do every day highlighting autism aa a motivational speaker and author keeps me inspired. The fact that my efforts are giving others around the word hope as well is so gratifying. And to be recognized as a “leader in adult autism” by the leading adult autism foundation, The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation, is very humbling.”
About The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation
Founded in 2002 by Linda Walder, a pioneer in the adult autism arena, The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation (DJFF) has blazed trails to develop, fund, and advocate for programs and public policy and services related to all aspects of adult life such as job training, residential living, the arts, recreation, health and wellness, and social/life skill independence. DJFF is named in honor and memory of Linda’s son Danny who was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and passed away at age nine.
Since 2014, DJFF has established endowment funds, known as The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation Endowment Funds, that focus solely on adult autism at Yale University, the University of Miami, Rutgers University, Arizona State University and Brown University in a first of its kind initiative that in perpetuity will assure that the most innovative research, program development, support systems and services as well as public policy at the First Place AZ Global Leadership Institute Daniel Jordan Fiddle Center for Public Policy will continue to advance the field of adult autism for generations to come.
Says Walder: “Our aim is to ensure that there will be an impactful focus on adult autism. Today, there are millions of Americans diagnosed with ASD, and multiply that by family members which means that the autism community is expansive. As a nation, it is our obligation to understand the various medical and sociological impacts of adult autism and create avenues for the diverse adult ASD population to live, work and recreate, and to attain the fullest lives possible. We also need to develop the infrastructure to support individuals and families throughout the lifespan by providing resources and service supports. The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation Endowment Funds are poised to lead the way on all fronts for this generation and generations to come.”
For more information or to share an inspiring person, organization, employer or service provider in the field of adult autism in your community contact: info@djfiddlefoundation.org
For more information on the 2019 Autism Society of America Conference visit: http://www.autism-society.org/news/autism-society-americas-51st-annual-conference-focuses-quality-life/
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(Interviews concerning The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation Leader in Adult Autism Award are available with Linda Walder of The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation and Scott Badesch of the Autism Society of America and Dr. Kerry Magro 2019 honoree)
