Grants & Award Information

Stephen Tsai Award for
Excellence In Autism Education

Nominate Someone Today!! Check www.autismia.org for updates!!

Who: Special Educators, Education Support Staff, or Community Care Providers

How: Submit an essay of 500 words or less to nominate your favorite person:
Please address all four components, as each one will be separately evaluated:

Please include:

1. Contributions this person has made to the field of autism.
2. The positive impact they have had on a student(s).
3. Specific information about the nominees professional goals/plan and how these goals relate to self-improvement and program-improvement.
4. What would the nominee identify as his/her most significant contribution in the field of autism education?

When: Postmarked by February 15, 2008, for consideration for the spring symposium.
The winner will be honored at the spring symposium with free admission, overnight stay, and their name engraved on the Tsai Award with past winners.

Where: Send essay to: ASI, 4549 Waterford Drive, West Des Moines, IA 50265.
Email to autism50ia@aol.com or fax to 515-457-7225.

Who is Stephen Tsai?
Steve is a 34 year old with autism who wants to show his appreciation to those who are helping persons like him by establishing the Stephen Tsai Award for Excellence in Autism Education.

Steve was diagnosed with autism at the University of Iowa Autism Program when he was three years old. During the next eight years, while in Iowa, he received Special Education training in the Iowa City Community School System. With the help of lots of dedicated teachers and professionals, Steve has become a productive citizen.

Steve works at two part-time paid jobs shelving books at the City Library and stocking goods at a local Drug store. He has a job coach and still has very limited communication skills. He is active in a Friendship group at church and a hand-chime music group, both for persons with Special Needs. He loves to cook and listen to music. He has earned enough money to pay his own airfares to travel to different countries, and has traveled so often that he is now a member of a frequent flyer’s club.