Joni and Friends TV Wins Telly Awards

Ministry Wins People’s Silver and Bronze Honors for New Two-Part Series, ‘Making Sense of Autism’

Now in its 31st year of recognizing excellence and creativity in commercials and non-broadcast video and television programs, the Telly Awards have announced that Joni and Friends TV ministry has been honored with a People’s Telly Silver and a Telly Bronze award for its production, “Making Sense of Autism.”

Joni and Friends produced the two-episode series in an effort to help educate audiences about autism to coincide with the national Autism Awareness Month emphasis during April. Autism is a growing concern in the U.S., with diagnoses on the rise. Statistics released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention earlier this year revealed that one in every 110 children in the U.S. will be diagnosed with some form of autism.

“With this rate of diagnosis, we believe that everyone likely knows someone impacted by autism, whether it’s a family member, friend or co-worker who has a loved one with autism,” said JAF Founder Joni Eareckson Tada. “While autism is a very common disability, it is tragically misunderstood, so we wanted to help provide some clarity and some facts for our viewers.”

“Making Sense of Autism” brings the viewers into the lives of families affected by autism to witness their joys and frustrations. Hosted by Tada, these episodes from her award-winning television series feature advice from parents, pastors, experts and teachers who address the issues surrounding autism. Part 1, “Myths That Hide the Truth,” dispels some of the most common misperceptions about autism, while Part 2, “Truth for the Church,” helps viewers understand how they can provide support to families affected by autism. DVDs and study guides for the series are also available through the website.