Awards & Recognition

By: Carmen Willings
teachingvisuallyimpaired.com
Updated April 9, 2020
There are a number of awards available to professionals within the field of visual impairments. Thank you to all who have contributed to our field! Do you know of more national awards? Please contact me so I can add them here.

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

AERBVI recognizes the outstanding achievements of individuals working in our field through our biennial Awards program. The following are awards available from AER:
  • The Alfred Allen Award was established by AAWB, one of AER’s two predecessor organizations, to honor professionals who have spent their careers in direct service to people with visual impairments. Through the extent and quality of the services that they have provided, these professionals exemplify the character, dedication, insight, and sharing that epitomize the spirit of and commitment to direct service.
  • The Mary K. Bauman Award was established in 1982 in order to honor an individual who has made significant and outstanding contributions to the education of children and youth who are blind or visually impaired.
  • The C. Warren Bledsoe Award is given in recognition of a particularly noteworthy piece of literature in the field of blindness.
  • The Douglas C. MacFarland Award was established to honor an individual who has provided leadership in the field of blindness and visual impairment and who made innovative, significant or outstanding contributions to the education or rehabilitation of people who are visually impaired through either direct service, professional organizations, research, literature and/or preparation of professionals and is retired from the field. These contributions should have had an impact on a national or international level.
  • The John H. McAulay Award was established to honor professionals who have contributed outstanding efforts and achievements leading to the placement of people with visual impairments in productive employment.
  • The Ambrose M. Shotwell Memorial Award was established to honor an individual who has made significant outstanding contributions to the personal adjustment or rehabilitation of adults who are blind or visually impaired. These leadership contributions have had an impact on a national or international level through their direct effect on people with visual impairments through the insight or inspiration that they provided to rehabilitation personnel in other states or nations.
  • The Richard L. Welsh Chapter Leadership Award was established to recognize professionals who have contributed outstanding efforts in AER chapter leadership. Nominees will demonstrate activity and achievement, either past or current, in the role of AER President-Elect, President, Past-President, Secretary, or Treasurer at the chapter level in the following areas: 1) Overall recognition as a leader who embodies and models the qualities of honesty, common sense, good decision making, communication, commitment to the field of visual impairment and blindness, and respect for diverse opinions; 2) embracing, inspiring, and motivating new membership and leadership at the Chapter level and beyond; 3) inviting collaboration to promote: leadership, membership recruitment, and member retention; and 4) Leadership that inspires joy and passion in the mentoring of new professionals in the field of visual impairment. 
  • The Outstanding Chapter Award recognizes a chapter whose membership efforts have been outstanding. Criteria can include: increase in the number of members; number and quality of services and/or programs offered by the chapter; and/or legislative activity significantly affecting the lives of blind people.
Additionally, many Chapters within AERBVI offer unique awards specific to their chapter.

APH Awards

  • Wings of Freedom Award. The Wings of Freedom Award is the highest honor presented by the American Printing House for the Blind. The award is not annual, but is given periodically, only as deserved. The Wings Award was established to recognize and honor individuals who have demonstrated exemplary leadership in the areas of education or rehabilitation of persons who are blind and visually impaired.
  • Virgil Zickel Award recognizes those creative and caring individuals whose ideas result in the development of innovative products designed to improve the quality of life for people who are blind and visually impaired. 
  • ​Creative Use of Braille Award is given in recognition of a product, idea, method, or promotional effort that increases the availability or awareness of braille. It is not given annually but only when an idea, service, or program rises to an important level.
  • Building Independence Award was established by APH to recognize the collaborative efforts and partnerships needed to ensure that students with vision loss have access to the unique educational tools and materials they need to reach their full potential and become independent, productive citizens.
  • Exemplary Advocate Award is presented to uniquely deserving partners.
  • ​Extra Mile Award was created to recognize the exceptional efforts of APH partners.

AFB Helen Keller Achievement Awards

The Helen Keller Achievement Awards were established by AFB in 1994 to acknowledge Keller's extraordinary efforts and to promote the notable achievements of individuals and organizations that are leaders in improving the lives of people with disabilities. ​

AFB Migel Medal Award

The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) announces an invitation for nominations for the 2019 Migel Medal, the highest honor in the blindness field. The Migel Medal was established in 1937 by M.C. Migel, the first chairperson of AFB, to honor those whose dedication and achievements have significantly improved the lives of people with vision loss. Past honorees include legendary disability-rights advocate, Helen Keller, Senator Tom Harkin, social entrepreneur and engineer, Jim Fruchterman, and renowned educators, Kathleen Mary Huebner, Ph.D., and Philip H. Hatlen, Ed.D.

NFB Dr. Jacob Bolotin Award

The Dr. Jacob Bolotin Awards honor individuals and organizations that are a positive force in the lives of blind people. Winners of the Dr. Jacob Bolotin Awards: Break down barriers facing blind people in an innovative way; change negative perceptions of blindness and blind people; push past existing boundaries to inspire blind people to achieve new heightsWinners receive a cash award and have included entrepreneurs, volunteers, filmmakers, authors, mathematicians, technology developers, artists, teachers, nonprofit organizations, programs, partnerships, and more.