FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation, The First National Autism Organization with the Mission to Develop and Award Grants to Programs
Benefiting Adolescents and Adults
Announces Its 2009 Grantees
18 Programs Offer An Array of Opportunities to
Live, Work and Recreate
In Communities Throughout The United States
The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation, a 501(c)(3) national autism organization, based in Ridgewood, New Jersey has announced its eighteen 2009 grantees. The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation (DJF) 2009 Grantees represent outstanding and innovative role model programs throughout the United States and exemplify the mission of the first national autism organization in the country to develop and support residential, recreational, vocational, educational and family programs that provide suitable and sustainable opportunities for adolescents and adults with Autism to participate in community life. The 2009 grantees showcase success stories that offer promising practices that can be replicated in communities around the country. Each program provides an avenue for its participants to obtain hands-on experiences that can travel with them throughout adult life while enhancing skills that advance productive futures. Importantly, each program provides a support system that maximizes independence and values the individuality of each person. Linda Walder Fiddle, Founding Executive Director of DJF sums up the organization’s philosophy as ” accepting and meeting individuals with Autism where they are,” and she states that, “the goal is to provide the necessary training and supports that will lead to successful outcomes and the best lives possible for all adults with Autism.”
The DJF grantees provide opportunities for young adults as they age out of school age programs into life, adult programs geared towards addressing residential, vocational, educational and recreational needs, and programs that provide mentoring and community participation endeavors. Examples of the types of role model programs awarded grants include a decision-making skills program for teens with Asperger’s Syndrome, a cookie-making business owned and run by adults, master art classes and arts related job placements for adults, and a peer mentor/vocational program where job-training for young adults offers the opportunity for them to mentor younger people with Autism. For more specific information on the DJF 2009 grantees visit http://www.djfiddlefoundation.org