Joan McKenna Kerr, CEO of the Autism Association of Western Australia, one of the largest specialist organisations in Australia, supporting people with Autism and their families, has been awarded the prestigious Asia Pacific Autism Award for her lifetime of service to people with Autism and their families. Joan is also National President and Chair of NDS.
The award presented today at the Asia Pacific Autism Conference 2017 (APAC 17) in Sydney is in recognition of the enormous contribution over 27 years that Ms McKenna Kerr has made to the field of Autism and to the lives of people with Autism and their families.
In presenting the Award, Mr. Adrian Ford of ASPECT referred to the significant work she had accomplished in Western Australia; and to her work nationally and internationally.
In receiving the award Ms McKenna Kerr commented;
“I am honoured to receive this award today and truly touched by this recognition from a field I hold dear “
“It has been my great privilege to work with many great colleagues in the field of Autism. Together we have debunked misguided myths; increased our understanding of how to support people with Autism; challenged perceptions of what was thought possible; and learnt from the greatest teachers of all: people with Autism.”
“No one achieves alone, so I would particularly like to acknowledge the wonderful staff of the Autism Association of Western Australia who dedicate themselves every day to improving the lives of people with Autism and their families”.