Matthew Husband, MUSC PPOTD student, named as inaugural Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation Direct Care Service Provider Fellow

The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation Adult Autism Post-Professional Doctoral Capstone Project for Direct Care Service Providers, established in fall 2024, recently named Matthew Husband, MS, OTR/L, as its first fellow.

Husband was selected by MUSC Post-Professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate (PPOTD) program leadership, from a qualified pool of 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.

For the past five years, Husband, a 2016 graduate of the MUSC Master of Science in Occupational Therapy program and current PPOTD student, has worked as a school-based occupational therapist in Westerville, Ohio delivering OT services to middle school, high school, and adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). His innovative program, “Get to Work,” will be featured in OT Practice Magazine this spring. The program focuses on improving employment and independent living outcomes for high school students. Additionally, Mr. Husband’s work focuses on helping adults with ASD foster independence through activities like a weekly fitness group, a community group to practice soft skills, and an independent lunch packing program.

The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation Direct Care Service Provider Fellowship will support Husband’s PPOTD doctoral capstone project, “Teaching Self-Determination Skills in Conjunction with Early Exposure to Work Experiences.”

In his application, Husband stated:

“My capstone project will focus on improving employability outcomes for adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) by providing early exposure to work, teaching self-determination skills to prepare individuals to make appropriate employment decisions based on their strengths, preferences, and abilities, and provide transition-related resources to families. My project will also include a scoping review to identify the role of self-determination skills on employment, specifically to analyze successful strategies that have improved employment outcomes for adults with ASD.

After graduation from the PPOTD Program in May 2025, my goal is to continue advocating for adults on the autism spectrum through innovative programming that focuses on improving employment, transportation skills, and independent living.”

"The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation could not be prouder about Matthew's Capstone Project that will not only lead the way nationally in elevating the important work of direct care service providers relating to the employment of adults, but will also set the course of excellence for this endowed fund at the MUSC College of Health Professions," said Linda J. Walder, Founder and CEO of The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation.

Husband’s capstone project will be completed in May 2025. Congratulations, Matthew!