Each year, the Autism Society presents a number of awards and scholarships to individuals and organizations in recognition of their commitment to the autism community. Awards and scholarship winners are announced each year at the Autism Society's National Conference and Exposition on Autism Spectrum Disorders.

Autism Society Award and Scholarship Eligibility Guidelines

1. Eligibility:

• Only Autism Society members in good standing may submit nominations. It is also recommended that nominees be Autism Society members.
• All nominations (except where noted) must pertain to accomplishments occurring during calendar year 2008.
• No current member of the Autism Society Board of Directors or the Panel of Professional Advisors, PSA (or program with which one of the Autism Society Board, PSA or PPA members is associated) is eligible.
• Individuals, organizations or products that have won an Autism Society award are not eligible in the category in which they have previously won.
• The Autism Society will only administer one award to an individual or group within a given calendar year.
• With the exception of the CVS/All Kids Can Scholars Program, you cannot nominate yourself for an Autism Society Award.
• Voting members of the Autism Society Awards Committee are prohibited from making a nomination.
• Guidelines apply to all Autism Society Awards and the CVS/All Kids Can Scholars Program.

2. Each nomination must include at least five copies (REQUIRED) of the following materials. ALL ITEMS REQUESTED ARE REQUIRED:

• A cover page with the name of the nominee, address, day phone number, e-mail address, and the award for which they are being nominated; and the name, address, day phone number, and e-mail address of the Autism Society member making the nomination.
• An essay (500 words maximum) by the Autism Society member making the nomination, stating a) why the nominee deserves this award and b) the nominee’s significant contribution to autism.
• Nominations in the Media Excellence, Outstanding Literary, and Outstanding Musical Contribution categories must include five copies of the work being nominated (e.g., the book, poem, video, compact disk or DVD).
• Any nomination, including those to the Autism Society National Awards and the CVS/All Kids Can Scholars Program, submitted with fewer than five complete copies will be disqualified.
• All award submissions, including all materials (books, videos, etc.), will not be returned.

3. Please clearly label on each item submitted the name of the person being nominated and the award category.

4. The Autism Society Awards Committee evaluates all nominations and selects winners that are appropriate for each category.

A winner is not necessarily chosen from all categories. All winners will be notified no later than April 30, 2009, and will be recognized at the Autism Society’s 40th National Conference on Autism Spectrum Disorders at the Pheasant Run Resort and Spa in St. Charles, Illinois on July 22nd thru the 25th.  Winners of Autism Society Awards will receive a one-day complimentary registration for the day of the award presentation. Specify your award category and mail to:

The Autism Society
7910 Woodmont Avenue, Suite 300, Bethesda, MD 20814
Attention: 2009 Autism Society Awards

All materials must be postmarked by March 31, 2009, and received no later than April 2, 2009. The Autism Society will not be responsible for late, damaged, misdirected or misaddressed mail.

2009 Autism Society Award Categories

Media Excellence Award Video, Print or News
Any item released, published, or copyrighted within the last five years (January 1, 2004 & later) that has made a significant contribution to the autism community is eligible.

Outstanding Literary Work of the Year
Family/Social Division (book, poem, essay, etc.)
Any item published or copyrighted within the last five years — January 1, 2004 & later is eligible.

Outstanding Literary Work of the Year
Educational Division (book, poem, essay, etc.)
Any item published or copyrighted within the last five years — January 1, 2004 & later is eligible.

Autism Professional of the Year
Professionals who have made a significant contribution in the autism field (educator, speech language therapist, social worker, occupational therapist, psychologist, psychiatrist medical doctor, or researcher). This list is not exhaustive; nominations for all types of professionals are welcome.

Outstanding Individual With Autism of the Year
An individual with autism who has excelled in one or more areas of life experiences or contributions.   Demonstration of exceptional dedication, effort or achievement. Areas to be considered can include, but should not necessarily be limited to: academics, the arts, athletics, community service, employment, extracurricular activities, transitions or independent living skills.

Autism Society Audrey I. Horne Memorial Award
Given to an individual or organization that has made an enduring contribution to improving adult services and the quality of life for those individuals living on the autism spectrum.

CVS/All Kids Can Scholars Program
The CVS/All Kids Can Scholars Program, administered by the Autism Society, provides a scholarship in the amount of $1,000 to a qualified individual with autism to be applied toward the completion of an accredited, postsecondary educational or vocational program of study (e.g., college, trade school, etc.).

Eligibility: The scholarship is available to an individual with autism who has successfully met all the requirements for admission into an accredited post-secondary program of study.
See Autism Society’s Award and Scholarship Eligibility Guidelines for details on nominator and nominee eligibility and the awards selection process.

Guidelines: Applicants must provide five copies of the following to be considered by the Autism Society Awards Committee:

• A cover page with the name of the nominee, address, day phone number, e-mail address, and the award for which they are being nominated; and the name, address, day phone number, and e-mail address of the Autism Socity member making the nomination.
• Self-nominations are accepted for this award only.
• Documentation of status as an individual with autism
• Secondary school transcripts
• Documentation of acceptance into an accredited, postsecondary educational or vocational program of study
• Two letters of recommendation
• Personal statements of no more than 500 words, outlining the applicant’s qualifications, social security number and proposed plan of study. These should be completed by both the nominee and the nominator. If the individual is self-nominating, only one statement is required.