The Dan Piper Award was established to commemorate self-advocate Dan Piper’s life by celebrating an individual with Down syndrome- 18 or older-who, through everyday activities, bring about greater public awareness and understanding of people with Down syndrome in his or her community.
The recipient of the Dan Piper Award will receive a trip to the NYC Buddy Walk and a photo in the Times Square Video!
The Award will open later in summer 2024.
The Dan Piper Award is given in memory of Dan Piper, a young man with Down syndrome. Dan had an inclusive education and showed the Iowa Public School System that people with Down syndrome are not only intelligent and able to learn but are also contributing members of the school community through involvement in extracurricular activities. Dan was employed and had many friends in the town where he lived in Iowa. Dan considered himself a “regular guy” who was given opportunities that allowed him to accomplish extraordinary things, such as testifying before Congress on behalf of the Americans with Disabilities Act.