23 Programs Throughout The United States For
Adolescents and Adults with Autism
Residential, Recreational, Vocational, Educational and Family Programs That Honor The Individuality of Those with Autism Will Receive 2008 Grants
Ridgewood, NJ (February, 2008)…The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation, the first organization in the United States with the mission to award grants to programs that enhance the lives and benefit adolescents and adults with Autism, has announced that it will award grants to 23 role model programs nationwide in 2008 . The foundation has been awarding grants to residential, recreational, vocational, educational and family programs for adolescents and adults with Autism since 2002. The hallmark of all DJF supported programs is that they provide suitable, stimulating and sustainable opportunities for participation in community life. “It is an attainable goal for each child with Autism to become an adult who can contribute to and enjoy the benefits of community life if we develop the programs and necessary support systems,” said Linda Walder Fiddle, Founder and Executive Director of the foundation, “ and we are greatly encouraged that more and more programs for adults are being modeled from the grant programs we have previously supported. Today, parents of young children with Autism can look to their future with hope and that did not exist even five years ago.”
The expertise of The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation encompasses developing, identifying, supporting and supervising exemplary programs with a particular focus in 2008 on programs for young adults as they transition from mandated school age programs to the uncharted waters of adult life. The foundation’s 2008 grantees include several transition vocational training programs for young adults throughout the United States including: Bittersweet Farms, Inc., Ohio; The Victory School, Florida; Eden II, New York; Nashoba Learning Group, Massachusetts; Developmental Disabilities Institute, New York; FECA, New York; and The Kelly Autism Program, Kentucky. Other grants for 2008 will support recreational and family related respite programs for teens and adults with Autism including: Groupo Salto, Illinois; Vista del Mar, California, Fountain House, Inc., New York; Ramapo for Children, New York; Agape Therapeutic Riding, Indiana; Opportunity Partners, Minnesota; and ALUT in Israel.
“The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation is committed to supporting and encouraging the development of role model programs for adolescents and adults in New Jersey,” said Linda Walder Fiddle,” because the nation looks to New Jersey as a leader, especially since the incidence of Autism in this state is 1 in 94 children.” New Jersey based programs awarded Fiddle Foundation grants for 2008 include: The Autism Center of NJMS; Durand Academy; Rutgers Douglass Developmental Disabilities Program; POAC; The Phoenix Center; The Jewish Association for Developmental Disabilities; ECLC; PAWS for Autism; The Ridgewood YMCA. These programs will create much needed opportunities for teens and adults with Autism to live, work and recreate in New Jersey.
For more information on The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation visit http://www.djfiddlefoundation.org/
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