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.
Shriver-Kennedy Student Achievement Award
This award recognizes students with autism, intellectual disability, or other developmental disabilities who excel in one or more of the following areas: academics, arts, athletics, community service, employment, extracurricular activities, independent activities, technology, and self-advocacy.
Social Justice Award
This award honors individuals who embody DADD values and work to address and break down systemic inequities based on disability and other marginalized identities. The recipient will have a track record of promoting social justice through their actions, both personally and professionally, making a lasting impact on autistic students/students with autism, intellectual disability, and/or other developmental disabilities.
Tom E. C. Smith Early Career Award
This award recognizes exceptional early career teacher educators in the area of education for students with autism, intellectual disability, or other developmental disabilities.