Member Spotlight 

Name: Guy Anthony Caruso, Ph.D., CRC, FAAIDD

Location: Pittsburgh, PA

Member since: 1987

Employment: 
Western Coordinator, Institute on Disabilities at Temple University (Pennsylvania’s UCEDD)

Why did you join AAIDD? 
I wanted to become part of an international organization that stood for the rights of people with intellectual disabilities, as well as wanted to have the opportunity to be part of a group of people who shared many of my beliefs.

Why did you choose the field of intellectual disability? 
A good friend of mine was attending Syracuse University and encouraged me to attend a Master’s program there and to learn from Dr. Burton Blatt and to study with Dr. Wolf Wolfensberger.  Wolf taught me about the Principle of Normalization, later Social Role Valorization, introduced me to citizen advocacy and L’Arche. Wolf got me a job at Wassaic State School  in New York State where I saw the horrors of what can be done to people with disabilities.  The social injustice I witnessed set me on  life-long course to support people with disabilities and their families to have the opportunity for the good things in life like any other citizen.  I will be forever grateful to the mentoring and guidance from people like Burt and Wolf who inspired me to work with people with intellectual disabilities.  

AAIDD leadership positions:
Consulting Editor; 2013 Local Arrangements Committee