WKU Autism Program Receives Fiddle Foundation Grant
January 22, 2009

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – The Kelly Autism Program at Western Kentucky University has received a $7,500 grant from The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation to support its School-to-Work Transition Program. This is the second year for the award.

The Excellence in Education, Engagement & Employment program provides opportunities for young adults diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder to learn job skills and pursue employment with community businesses, organizations and work with individuals who have received training as job coaches.

More than 13 businesses and organizations in the Bowling Green region have provided job opportunities for the participants last year, and the hope is to increase this number as the number of participants as the Kelly Autism Program grows, KAP Director Marty Boman said. The program would impact 40 or more individuals. Another component that will be added this year is a new business in which the participants make children’s furniture, banks, CD cabinets, etc.  The Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) will assist them with the marketing of their products.

The Kelly Autism Program, one of six programs within WKU’s Clinical Education Complex, was made possible in 2004 through an initial gift and ongoing support from John and Linda Kelly. KAP continues to expand and provide services for more families. For more on the Kelly Autism Program, visit:  http://kap.wku.edu.

The mission of The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation is to develop and award grants to programs that enrich the lives of adolescents and adults with autism. The foundation’s expertise encompasses developing, identifying, supporting and supervising exemplary programs. For more on the Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation, visit http://www.djfiddlefoundation.org/.

- WKU - a leading American university with international reach -

More WKU news is available at www.wku.edu and at http://wkunews.wordpress.com/.