Awards & Recognition

By: Carmen Willings
teachingvisuallyimpaired.com
Updated June 20, 2025
There are several prestigious awards that honor professionals and organizations advancing the field of visual impairments. These awards highlight excellence in service, innovation, education, leadership, and advocacy. If you know of additional national awards not listed here, please contact me so I can include them. 

Association for the Education and Rehabilitation of Blind and Visually Impaired (AERBVI) Awards

AERBVI recognizes outstanding achievements in the field through its biennial awards program. Awards include:
  • The Alfred Allen Award: Honors professionals who have demonstrated a lifetime of direct service to individuals who are blind or visually impaired.
  • The Mary K. Bauman Award: Recognizes significant contributions to the education of children and youth who are blind or visually impaired.
  • The C. Warren Bledsoe Award: Awarded for a particularly noteworthy piece of literature in the blindness field.
  • The Douglas C. MacFarland Award: Recognizes innovative, significant, or outstanding leadership in the education or rehabilitation of individuals with visual impairments, with national or international impact.
  • The John H. McAulay Award: Honors individuals whose work has promoted the employment of people with visual impairments.
  • The Ambrose M. Shotwell Memorial Award: Recognizes significant contributions to adult rehabilitation or personal adjustment for individuals who are blind or visually impaired.
  • The Richard L. Welsh Chapter Leadership Award: Highlights exemplary leadership at the chapter level within AER, promoting engagement, mentoring, and chapter development.
  • The Outstanding Chapter Award: Recognizes a chapter’s exceptional growth, programming, and legislative efforts.
Note: Many AER chapters also offer unique regional or state-level awards.

​American Printing House for the Blind (APH) Awards

​APH honors individuals and organizations that advance educational tools, advocacy, and innovation:
  • Wings of Freedom Award: APH’s highest honor, awarded periodically to individuals demonstrating exemplary leadership in the education or rehabilitation of people with vision loss.
  • Virgil Zickel Award: Recognizes individuals whose creative ideas result in the development of innovative products for people who are blind or visually impaired.
  • Creative Use of Braille Award: Celebrates innovations that promote braille awareness, access, or application.
  • Building Independence Award: Honors collaborative efforts to ensure that students with vision loss have access to tools and materials promoting independence.
  • Exemplary Advocate Award: Acknowledges exceptional advocacy in support of APH’s mission.
  • Extra Mile Award: Recognizes partners who demonstrate exceptional effort in supporting APH goals.

​American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) Awards

  • Helen Keller Achievement Awards: Established in 1994, these awards honor individuals and organizations making significant contributions to improving the quality of life for people with disabilities, particularly those with vision loss.
  • Migel Medal Award: AFB’s highest honor, created in 1937 by M.C. Migel. It recognizes individuals whose contributions have significantly improved the lives of people who are blind or visually impaired. Notable recipients include Helen Keller, Senator Tom Harkin, and Dr. Philip H. Hatlen.​​

National Federation of the Blind (NFB) Awards

  • Dr. Jacob Bolotin Award: Celebrates individuals and organizations that break down barriers for blind people in innovative ways. Recipients may include educators, technologists, advocates, authors, or nonprofit organizations. Awardees receive a cash prize and national recognition for advancing equality and opportunity.

Do You Know of Additional Awards?

This list focuses on national awards that celebrate leadership and innovation in the field of blindness and visual impairments. If you know of other awards—particularly those with national or international reach—please reach out so we can continue to honor the incredible work of professionals in our field.