DADD Awards
DADD Awards Nominations
The following awards are given each year through a nomination process by members and friends of DADD:
- Teacher of the Year
- Para-Educator of the Year
- Shriver–Kennedy Student Achievement Award
- Burton Blatt Humanitarian Award
- Research Award
- Social Justice Award
- Tom E. C. Smith Early Career Award
- Early Career Research Award
We encourage anyone to nominate someone whom they believe should be recognized for their work, service, research, and/or leadership in the field of developmental disabilities and autism spectrum disorders. Nominations are submitted to the Awards Chair and then voted on by the voting members of the DADD Awards Committee.
Awards will be presented at the DADD Annual Conference. The deadline for consideration of awards is typically mid-October. Nominees who are selected will be informed by mid-November of that year.
All individuals wishing to nominate someone for an award are asked to complete a form that will be made available each year during the call for nominations.
Burton Blatt Humanitarian Award
This award recognizes exceptional individuals who have made a significant contribution to the field of education for students who with autism, intellectual disability, or other developmental disabilities.
DADD Para-Educator of the Year
This award recognizes exceptional paraprofessionals working in some capacity with students who have autism, intellectual disability, or other developmental disabilities.
DADD Research Award
This award recognizes exceptional researchers in the area of education for students with autism, intellectual disability, or other developmental disabilities.
DADD Teacher of the Year
This award recognizes exceptional educators working in some capacity with students who have autism, intellectual disability, or other developmental disabilities.
Early Career Research Award
Given to someone who is beginning their career and showing promise as a researcher. Individuals who finished their doctoral work less than 5 years ago are eligible. These nominees must be contributing to research related to students with autism, intellectual disability, and other developmental disabilities in a significant way.