Autism Connection invites you to nominate someone who has gone above and beyond expectations to make a significant impact on Pennsylvania’s autism community.

This year’s awards will be our
Annual Grandin Award
Joseph Vernon Smith Benevolence Award
NEW Award for Direct Support Staff Professionals

Temple Grandin, PhD.visited with us many years ago and approved the award named in her honor. We now invite you to nominate someone who has gone above and beyond expectations while working to make a significant impact on our region’s autism community.

Joseph Vernon Smithis an autistic Autism Connection board member and colleague living in Pittsburgh. He writes and takes photos about benevolence when he is not busy doing frequent works of kindness in his everyday life. Being kind, and encouraging the rest of us to act and think in benevolent ways, is his “mission critical”. Please think of the people in your life who think and act like Joe Smith, and nominate them for this award! Their actions could be a one time achievement or an ongoing quest.

Service Coordinator/Direct Support Staff Professionals Awardwill be given to a nominee who has gone above and beyond in their roll of working with clients in the autism community.

(Please note, employees of Autism Connection of PA cannot nominate or be nominated)

Winners for all awards will be honored during our Awesome Night for Autism Connection of PA in June 2022.