DI resident establishes MUSC endowment to support autistic adults

On Sept. 11, the Medical University of South Carolina and the Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation announced the creation of a new endowment that will support adults diagnosed with autism.

 

The endowment, initiated by Daniel Island resident and foundation founder Linda Walder, is the first in the nation to focus specifically on direct care occupational therapy service providers for adults with autism.

 

With an initial gift of $52,500, the Adult Autism Post-Professional Doctoral Fellowship Program for Direct Care Service Providers will identify a fellow from MUSC’s Post-Professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate program.

 

The fellow will undertake a doctoral capstone project that addresses the challenges faced by adults with autism by aiming to create practical occupational therapy solutions.

 

Walder, who is a longtime advocate for the adult autism community, founded the DJFF in honor of her son Danny, who was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.

 

Although Danny tragically passed away at the age of nine, his legacy lives on through the foundation. Linda’s mission is to help the 5.6 million adults with autism in the U.S. realize their full potential while honoring her son’s memory.

 

“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,” she said.

 

Walder said MUSC is the ideal institution to host the foundation’s sixth endowment.

 

“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,” she said.

 

Since its founding in 2002, the foundation’s mission has been to develop, fund, and advocate for programs and public policies related to all aspects of adult life including employment and housing, creative expression, community and social life, health and wellness, and by helping provide resources for the families of adults with autism.

 

The endowment continues the foundation’s ongoing collaborations with researchers and practitioners from institutions that include Yale, Brown, and Rutgers Universities, as they focus on advancing new research, support systems, and replicable programs for autistic adults.

 

“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,” said Zoher Kapasi, MUSC’s dean of college health professions.

 

“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.”

 

For more information about The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation, visit djfiddlefoundation.org.