In recognition of outstanding leadership and progress in helping Madison House Autism Foundation (MHAF) expand its impact nationally and locally, Adrienne McBride has been named as the organization’s Executive Director. “Adrienne has become a national voice for housing, employment, education, and advocacy,” noted JaLynn Prince, Co-Founder and President of MHAF. “She has been a leader, guiding our growth both as a national non-profit and one with programs that directly support adults with autism in the Washington Metropolitan Area.”
McBride oversees national housing and advocacy efforts and locally-based services and programs for adults with autism including the development of MHAF’s Autism Housing Network, the only online platform connecting adults with disabilities to providers, and the Coalition for Community Choice, an alliance of more than 100 nonprofits working to support housing options for people with disabilities. In her new role, she also will oversee the development of programs and services at Madison Fields, the foundation’s 400-acre farm in Montgomery County, Maryland serving adults on the spectrum, military veterans, and the community-at-large.
“The needs are so great for this growing, vulnerable population,” noted McBride. “I am honored to have this opportunity to help Madison House Autism Foundation to continue to expand its services and advocacy for the millions of people with autism who are turning 21 and facing a lifetime of little or no support.”
Prior to her work at MHAF, McBride directed programs at two of University of Maryland University College’s regional centers and was Resource and Communications Manager for Shepherd’s Table. A member of the Board of Directors for the League of Women Voters, McBride was also part of Leadership Frederick and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Politics and French from Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut, and a Masters degree in Marketing from the University of Maryland.
Madison Houses Autism Foundation was formally established in 2008 and is one of the first and few national organizations to focus on the needs of autistic adults. The foundation is dedicated to creating awareness of the lifespan challenges facing autistic adults who want to make choices, live as independently as possible, hold jobs, feel connected to their communities, and become participating members of our society.
Featured Artist Kevin Kopsco | Composer, Musician, and Student
As a pediatrician and mother of an adult with autism, I love what Madison House is doing. I live in Utah and am very interested in what Ms McBride has created online to help people with autism connect to adult providers and to help gather together the many services available. In my opinion those are two desperately needed and largely missing services in supporting people with autism. I would love to learn more about what she has done!