Awards

Community Access Award

Sam Gould, Open Door Theater & Think Outside the Vox

In recognition of her commitment and dedication to accessibility, inclusion, and the expansion of arts and cultural access for all people with disabilities, and greater engagement and equity in audio description employment and career opportunities for all people, including those who are blind or have low vision.

Outstanding Service Award

Larry Goldberg

In recognition of his tireless advocacy, innovation, and creativity in approaches to telecommunications and digital accessibility, his unwavering dedication and steadfastness to ethics and personal principles, his leadership in the passage of the CVAA, his role in training and supporting future colleagues in the field through Teach Access, and all of his work to make the world a more accessible place for everyone with blindness, low vision, and other disabilities in Massachusetts and all around the world.

Betty Gayzagian Advocacy Award

David Morrison

In recognition of his commitment, dedication, and leadership in the area of personal safety for people who are blind or have low vision, and his leadership of the Charles River Chapter of the Bay State Council of the Blind.

Outstanding Leadership Award

David Kingsbury

Presented to David Kingsbury for his outstanding leadership as BSCB President on behalf of the blind and low vision citizens of Massachusetts.

Community Access Award

Harry Duchesne, Audio Journal

In recognition of his commitment and dedication to accessibility, inclusion, and the expansion of opportunities and greater engagement in audio production, employment and career exploration opportunities for all people who are blind or have low vision.

Outstanding Service Award

Dr. Richard Jackson

In recognition of his tireless advocacy, innovation, and creativity in approaches to special education services, accessibility, and the right for a free and appropriate public education for all students who are blind or have low vision. In addition, this award recognizes his leadership in training and supporting colleagues in the field and working to make the world a more accessible place for everyone with blindness, low vision, and other disabilities in Massachusetts and all across the country.

Betty Gayzagian Advocacy Award

Aaron Spelker, Mobile Accessible Gaming

In recognition of his commitment, dedication, and leadership in the areas of audio description and accessible gaming for people who are blind or have low vision and his leadership with the American Council of the Blind Audio Description Project in an emerging area of access for the growing numbers of blind and low vision gamers nationally and internationally.

Career Achievement Award

Jane Perry

In recognition of her tireless advocacy on a wide variety of access issues including transportation, accessible housing, appropriate health care, and the right of all people with disabilities to inclusion, dignity, and respect in their communities and in appreciation for her being the “Cape Cod Connection” for all people who are blind or have low vision in Massachusetts.

Community Access Award

Allyson Bieryla

Science Center Astronomy Lab and Telescope Manager, Harvard University; Astronomer, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Solar, Stellar, and Planetary Sciences Division, Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian

In recognition of her commitment and dedication to accessibility, inclusion, and the expansion of opportunities and greater engagement in astronomy, eclipse understanding, and increased awareness of science and space by all people who are blind or have low vision.

Outstanding Service Award

Paul Ruvolo, Olin College

In recognition of his innovative and creative approaches to accessibility, engineering and design for students at Olin College studying to make the world a more accessible place for everyone, especially for people who are blind or have low vision.

Betty Gayzagian Advocacy Award

Tina Kurys

In recognition of her commitment and dedication for over 30 years to providing peer support, consumer-based mentorship, guidance for adults experiencing vision loss from retinitis pigmentosa and other retinal diseases in Massachusetts and beyond.

Community Access Award

Joseph Kolb

Recognized for his forty-plus year career as an orientation and mobility instructor, he has facilitated the independence of well over 1000 individuals who are blind to travel independently and safely in the community.

Community Access Award

Elizabeth Koh, Reporter, The Boston Globe

Recognized for her investigative reporting and exposure of the leadership concerns at the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind.

Outstanding Service Award

Joseph Sullivan

Recognized for his development of the Duxbury Braille Translator software, the world’s leading software for producing braille, for over 190 different languages.

Betty Gayzagian Advocacy Award

James (Jim) Badger

Recognizing his leadership in his role as SEIU 509 representative at the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind during COVID and the closing of two regional MCB offices demonstrating a significant amount of personal courage.

Community Access Award

ACB Community & ACB Media

Recognized jointly for their amazing efforts in bringing people together through the wide ranging topics of the Community calls and ACB Media programming together they have changed the present and future landscape of how ACB and its affiliates can reach out, communicate and maintain connections with people who are blind or have low vision.

Outstanding Service Award

Heather Thomas

Recognized for her many years of service at the Carroll Center for the Blind where she worked as an Assistive Technology Instructor, teaching hundreds of blind and low vision consumers of all ages to use screen readers and screen magnification technologies.

Betty Gayzagian Advocacy Award

Tyler Littlefield

Recognized for his development of a fully accessible tracker of COVID-19 statistics as a resource for those who are blind or have low vision.

Community Access Award

Disability Law Center, Inc.

In recognition of its commitment and dedication to accessibility, the protection of civil rights, and the expansion of opportunities, and greater inclusion in society for Massachusetts residents and all others nationwide who are blind or have low vision.

Community Access Award

Boston Symphony Orchestra: Boston Pops Holiday Concert 2020

In recognition of its innovative and creative introduction to the provision of Audio Description services for the 2020 Holiday Pops Concert series, and its commitment to ongoing access for people who are blind or have low vision.

Betty Gayzagian Advocacy Award

Cheryl Cumings, President & Founder, Our Space, Our Place, Inc.

In recognition of her innovative and creative leadership in the provision of peer-based mentorship after-school programs and career exploration services for children and youth in the Greater Boston area and beyond, and her visionary commitment to make more opportunities available for all students who are blind or have low vision, especially those from minority communities.

Community Access Award

Karen Santiago

In recognition of her commitment and dedication to all aspects of the production and distribution of the Blind Perspective, an online and audio publication for the blindness community.

Community Access Award

Memorial Foundation for the Blind

In recognition of its commitment and dedication to the provision of specialized programs and services in Central Massachusetts and beyond for all people who are blind or have low vision.

Outstanding Service Award

Hannah Fairbairn

In appreciation of her distinguished career providing rehabilitation teaching services for hundreds of newly blind individuals at the Carroll Center for the Blind; and in recognition of the publication of her book “When You Can’t Believe Your Eyes: Vision Loss and Personal Recovery”.

Betty Gayzagian Advocacy Award

Nona Haroyan

In recognition of her numerous contributions in service to the Greater Worcester Blindness Community, and for her tireless advocacy in support of the family of a teen to get him admitted to Perkins, and for her work in the area of assistive technology access for people with vision loss in Central Massachusetts.

Community Access Award

Huntington Theatre Company – Meg O’Brien

For expanding access to live theater through audio description.

Community Access Award

Greater Boston Legal Services Inc. – Dan Manning and Alexa Rosenbloom

For providing excellent legal representation to increase access to services in the Boston area.

Outstanding Service Award

Sassy Outwater-Wright

For her leadership of the Massachusetts Association of the Blind and Visually Impaired (MABVI) and establishing its VIBRANT program.

Betty Gayzagian Advocacy Award

Bruce Howell

For his work at the Carroll Center to improve web accessibility, and his effective chairmanship of the MCB Rehabilitation Council.

Community Access Award

James Izatt and The Worcester Talking Book Library

For his commitment and dedication to the provision of specialized library-based technology access programs in Central Massachusetts.

Outstanding Service Award

Paul Saner

For his leadership and management of the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind As Its Commissioner since August 2013.

Betty Gayzagian Advocacy Award

Vicki Vogt

For her dedication, advocacy, and hard work on all issues surrounding audio description.

Community Access Award

Vince Lombardi and Audio Journal

For his commitment and dedication to the provision of specialized information access programs and audio description services in Central Massachusetts and beyond.

Outstanding Service Award

Venkatesh Chari and Orbit Research

For his engineering breakthroughs and design initiatives to create products to make the world more accessible.

Betty Gayzagian Advocacy Award

Deann Elliott

For her dedication, determination, leadership and hard work on issues of importance to people with disabilities.

Community Access Award

Lawrence Raymond

For his leadership and dedication to the provision of specialized programs and services in Central Massachusetts and beyond.

Outstanding Service Award

Carla Burke

For her leadership in the library community in Harwich, on Cape Cod and beyond.

Betty Gayzagian Advocacy Award

Denise Karuth

For her dedication, determination, leadership and hard work on all issues of importance to people with disabilities in Massachusetts and across the nation.

Lifetime Achievement Award

Rosalind (Roz) Rowley

For her lifetime commitment to the education of students who are blind or visually impaired.

Community Access Award

Beverly A. Scott

For her commitment and dedication to the provision of accessible transportation services for all people who are blind or visually impaired in Massachusetts.

Outstanding Service Award

Myra Burloff

For her leadership in the disability community.

Betty Gayzagian Advocacy Award

Marcia Dresser

For her leadership and hard work on all issues of importance to people who are blind or visually impaired in Massachusetts and across the nation.

Community Access Award

Amy Ruell

For providing information and access to enhance the use of assistive technology.

Outstanding Service Award

Steven M. Rothstein

In recognition of his leadership in the blindness community.

Betty Gayzagian Advocacy Award

Mary Haroyan

For her leadership and advocacy in Central Massachusetts.

Community Access Award

American Repertory Theater

For their provision of audio description.

Community Access Award

Not Your Average Joe’s

For their provision of Braille menus in all of their locations.

Betty Gayzagian Advocacy Award

Brian Coppola

For his work to make prescription drug labels more accessible.

Community Access Award

Carl O. Richardson III, Massachusetts State House Bureau of State Buildings

For his leadership in bringing physical and programmatic accessibility to the Massachusetts State House.

Outstanding Service Award

William Henderson

In recognition of his distinguished career, his leadership in the integration and inclusion of children with disabilities in mainstream schools.

Betty Gayzagian Advocacy Award

David Kingsbury, Co-Chair, BSCB Transportation Committee

For his leadership in the area of accessible transportation.

Betty Gayzagian Advocacy Award

Rick E. Morin, Co-Chair, BSCB Transportation Committee

For his leadership in the area of accessible transportation.

Leadership Award

Robert Hachey

For his outstanding contribution to the organization as president from 2006 to 2012.

Community Access Award

Representative Edward J. Markey

For his determination to gain passage of the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010.

Betty Gayzagian Advocacy Award

Jennifer Harnish, Ph.D.

For her support and establishment of a support group for parents who are blind.

Community Access Award

Massachusetts Audubon Society

For bringing accessible nature opportunities to all people who are blind or visually impaired in Massachusetts.

Outstanding Service Award

Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Hannah Goodwin and Valerie Burrows

For their commitment to accessible arts and museum access.

Betty Gayzagian Advocacy Award

Nancy Jodoin

For her advocacy on access and public health in Massachusetts.

Community Access Award

Louise Beach

For her leadership in minority communities.

Outstanding Service Award

Svetlana and Harris Sussman

For the establishment of the M.N. Adamov Memorial Fund for independence for people who are blind in Russia.

Betty Gayzagian Advocacy Award

George Mcdermott

For his leadership and advocacy in Central Massachusetts.

Outstanding Service Award

Bank of America

For their efforts to promote financial independence for all people who are blind in Massachusetts and around the nation.

Community Access Award

Senator Steven A. Tolman, 185th General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Outstanding Service Award

David D. Chabot, guide dog harness maker

Betty Gayzagian Advocacy Award

Rick E. Morin

Outstanding Leadership Award

Judi Cannon

Outstanding Service Award

Ron Bersani, Talking Information Center

Special Recognition Award

Massachusetts Commission

For the Blind, for their 100 years of service.

Leadership Award

Jerry Berrier

For his outstanding contribution to the organization as the president from 2004 to 2006.

Outstanding Service Award

Judy Berk, Cultural Access Consortium

For her commitment to arts accessibility, and ensuring full participation for people who are blind or visually impaired.

Outstanding Service Award

Leon Murphy

For his distinguished career manufacturing Perkins Braillers with care and precision for 45 years.

Outstanding Access Award

Wang Center For The Performing Arts

For longstanding commitment to accessibility and dedication to the provision of audio description.

Community Awareness Award

Worcester Historical Museum

For their commitment to promoting awareness of guide dogs in Massachusetts.

President’s Advocacy Award

Elizabeth (Betty) Soderholm

For her leadership and advocacy in the areas of rehabilitation and transportation services.

Outstanding Service Award

Arthur O’neil

For his provision of accessible recreational opportunities.

Outstanding Service Award

Stan Eichner

For his commitment to civil rights and lifetime dedication to ensuring full access for all citizens of Massachusetts.

President’s Advocacy Award

Albert Gayzagian

For his years of leadership in advocating for a full range of educational, employment, and rehabilitation options for people who are blind.

Outstanding Service Award

Kevin J. Lessard

For his outstanding career with the Perkins School for the Blind, and for his dedication to the delivery of quality programs and services for all people who are blind and visually impaired.

President’s Advocacy Award

Pamela Loch

For her tireless efforts which resulted in the preservation of bus service for Hopkinton and surrounding communities.

Outstanding Service Award

Andrea Doane

For her role in the development of audio description services, and her commitment and dedication to quality standards and the goal of access to the arts for all.

Access Achievement Award

Wheelock Family Theatre

For its leadership role as the first theater in Massachusetts to provide audio description services, and for its ongoing dedication to the principles of access to the arts for all.

Outstanding Service Award

Fran Weisse

For her dedication to the delivery of information and quality programs and services for all people who are blind.

Leadership Award

Kim Charlson

For her outstanding contribution to the organization as president from 1994 to 2000.

Outstanding Service Award

Beezy Bentzen

For her dedication and commitment to the goals of safe and independent travel and an accessible environment.

Outstanding Service Award

Debby Smith

For her commitment to quality programs and services for all people who are blind and visually impaired.

Leadership Award

Laura Oftedahl

For her outstanding contribution to the organization as the editor of Baylines from 1990 to 1998.

Volunteer Recognition Award

Vicki J. Vogt

For the many tasks she does to support the activities and members of the BSCB.

Outstanding Service Award

Diane L. Croft

For her commitment to Braille literacy.

Outstanding Service Award

Charles H. Crawford

For his many years of leadership, service, and advocacy for blind and visually impaired people in Massachusetts.