Autism Society Audrey I. Horne Memorial Award
Awarded to Anna Penn Hundley

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.

Anna Hundley is executive director of the Autism Treatment Center in Dallas, which provides services to children and adults with autism and other related developmental disorders. Hundley is also president of the National Association of Residential Providers for Adults with Autism (NARPAA), founded to assure the availability of residential services and other supports for adults with autism throughout their lives. She has accomplished much in adult services and has been leading the charge to support this underserved population.

Horticulture and Pottery Project

Beginning in Fall 2010, the Dallas program will begin construction on a new green house to serve as the site of the pottery and horticulture program. Once completed, the program will allow adults to seed, grow plants, flowers, and garden herbs, and eventually sell these products to our community neighbors. This business model allows proceeds to continually re-invest and sustain the program. The Dallas program will follow the model established at ATC’s San Antonio program in 2008; the program has proven to be successful in terms of improving lives, increasing skills, and profitability of plant sales.

Another function of the horticulture program will be making and selling pottery to house the plants for sale; a kiln will be purchased to manufacture the pottery. The process of making the pottery will be part of art therapy led by an art instructor with several years of experience working with children and adults with autism and other developmental disorders. Art therapy is instrumental in that it allows children and adults, particularly those who are non-verbal, an outlet to communicate emotions and ideas.

The pottery will be crafted by adults through a personalized job training program. Individuals will be matched with appropriate skill and interest level to create original works of art. As some of the participants prepare clay, some create forms, while others apply paints, glazes and final accessories.

The overall purpose of the horticulture and pottery program is to better promote independence of the adults with autism, as well as teach concepts of time and space, lifecycles, and seasonal events. Working in an outdoors environment will also enhance perceptions of vision and smell while providing exercise, building endurance, and improving coordination. Going green will allow the adults in the program to be more environmentally aware, practice conservation, and save our planet for future generations. In addition to the therapeutic value of the horticulture program, it will also attract local insects and birds to provide a natural ecological environment at the Autism Treatment Center.