BOCA RATON–FloridaAtlanticUniversity’s Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (CARD) has announced the appointments of John Miller and Judi Donoff to its Constituency Board.
“I am honored to be involved with CARD as I believe in helping children and their families deal with this difficult situation,” said Donoff. “Having lived it, I know how difficult it is to find the proper services for one’s child. It is very rewarding to give back to the Boca community in a way that helps other families who find themselves in the same situation as our family.”
Donoff is a graduate of theUniversityofManitoba,Canadawith a bachelor’s degree in interior design. Donoff’s late stepson, Chase, was diagnosed with autism. His life inspired her work as an advocate for children with special needs.
Along with her husband, Craig, she has been instrumental in raising autism awareness within Boca Raton’s philanthropic society. She was the honoree of FAU CARD’s 2012 “Wings of Hope” event, which raised more than $42,000.
Miller is an FAU alumnus who holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master‘s degree in special education. After dealing with his own battle of Asperger’s syndrome, Miller decided to help others by teaching special needs students.
In 2010, he completed a manuscript based on his life and teaching experiences titled, “The A Word: My Life with Asperger’s and the World of Autism.”
In 2011, he was profiled in Autism Spectrum Quarterly and has since begun work on a second manuscript on dating and relationships for males with high-functioning autism and Asperger’s.
Housed in FAU’sCollege of Education, CARD serves as a multidisciplinary learning laboratory for members of the community including FAU undergraduate and graduate students. One of seven such centers in the state, CARD currently serves more than 2,700 clients, most diagnosed with autism and related disorders such as Asperger’s syndrome, Rett syndrome, and childhood disintegrative disorder.
CARD acts as a clearinghouse of information, and its services and programs reflect a strong belief in early intervention. The focus of FAU CARD is to optimize the potential of people with autism spectrum disabilities by enabling them to learn, work, communicate and socialize in the community.