The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation Establishes Endowment Fund for Fellowship Program

Foundation Gift Establishes Nation’s First-Ever Post-Professional Doctoral Fellowship Program for Direct Care Occupational Therapy Service Providers in the Field of Adult Autism

CHARLESTON, SC, Sept. 19 - The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation (DJFF), the nation’s first not-for-profit organization to exclusively focus on adult autism, has launched a groundbreaking endowment fund at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) College of Health Professions (CHP), adding to DJFF’s existing endowed program initiatives at Brown University, Yale University, Rutgers University, Arizona State University, and the University of Miami’s Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (CARD), all focused on areas relating to adult autism.

With an initial gift of $52,500, The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation Adult Autism Post-Professional Doctoral Fellowship Program for Occupational Therapy Direct Care Service Providers has been established for students in the Post-Professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate (PPOTD) at MUSC. The endowment will identify a Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation Direct Care Service Provider Fellow, selected annually by the PPOTD program leadership team, from a qualified pool of PPOTD candidates with existing expertise in adult autism and a professional interest in advancing the field of direct care service for the diverse population of autistic adults.

In alignment with their mission, the DJFF endowment fund will support the Fellow’s Doctoral Capstone work, with the goal of designing and implementing an impactful project that immediately affects the field of adult autism. The project will define issues and challenges relating to direct care service for adults with autism and will propose implementable occupational therapy solutions to address those challenges.

Founded by Linda J. Walder, a pioneer in the adult autism arena, The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation has blazed trails to develop, fund, and advocate for programs and public policy related to all aspects of adult life, such as jobs, housing, creative expression through the arts, community/social life, health and wellness, and, importantly, resources and support for the family members of adults. DJFF is named in honor and memory of Linda’s son Danny who was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

The DJFF endowed program funds have opened new doors with the establishment of in perpetuity adult-autism-focused collaborations with the nation’s leading researchers and practitioners at renowned universities. They are addressing the critical issues in adult autism and advancing the creation of new research, vital support systems, and replicable programs for autistic adults.

 

Linda Walder, Founder and CEO of The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation, says: “The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation is proud to take the lead in elevating the roles of direct care service providers with this opportunity to attain the professional and academic status of a post-doctoral capstone. The Medical University of South Carolina College of Health Professions has unparalleled expertise to be the home of our sixth adult-autism-focused endowment, as the need for qualified direct care providers is a challenging and complex issue for the autism community. It is our hope that this endowment advances the profession of direct care service as a valued career choice for dedicated individuals who wish to work with the adult autism population.”

The first DJFF Direct Care Service Provider Fellow will be named in October 2024. The Fellow will be jointly chosen by The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation and the PPOTD Program Director, Michelle L. Woodbury, PhD, OTR/L, through a formal application process.

Zoher Kapasi, PhD, PT, MBA, FAPTA, Dean of MUSC College of Health Professions, says: “We are grateful to Linda Walder and The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation for creating this unique opportunity to partner in support of adults diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Their generosity empowers our PPOTD students to change what’s possible with this diverse population by informing evidence-based practice for direct care service providers across disciplines.”

It is estimated that there are currently more than 5.6 million adults living with autism in the U.S.