Texas School for the Blind & Visually Impaired

Outreach Programs

www.tsbvi.edu | 512-454-8631| 1100 W. 45th St. | Austin, TX 78756

Awards for Excellence in Deafblindness

Texas Deafblind Symposium

March 3 & 4, 2017

Making Connections

The presentation of awards to individuals whose efforts have made a significant contribution to the field of deafblindness and/or who have contributed to improving the lives of Texans with deafblindness is one of the highlights of the Texas Symposium on Deafblindness. With the 2017 Symposium just around the corner, we are asking for your help in determining the recipients of this year’s awards. Please help us by nominating individuals whom you feel should be recognized for their contributions at the 2017 Symposium. You may nominate individuals in any of the four categories. A nomination form is in on the back of this sheet and may be duplicated for multiple nominations.

Please complete the form(s) and mail, fax or email to:

Adam Graves

Texas Deafblind Outreach

Texas School for the Blind & Visually Impaired

1100 West 45th Street

Austin, TX 78756

Fax: 512-206-9320

Email:

All nominations must be received by January 13, 2017. All nominees must be from Texas or work in Texas. A group made up of individuals with deafblindness, family members, educators, interveners, and others interested in working with individuals who are deafblind will review the nominations and select the recipients.

Award Categories

Trail Blazer Award

Given to a family member(s) who has, through their advocacy or efforts on behalf of their family member with deafblindness, blazed a trail that has made it easier for other families who follow. Previous winners include:

· 2000 Pat McCallum, Bud & Lynne Freeman, Celeste & Riley Rand, Larry & Clarke, and all the families who pioneered services in Texas for their children with deafblindness.

· 2003 Norm McCallum

· 2005 Paul, Susie, and Leo Welch

· 2007 Cathy Springer

· 2009 Melanie and Gary Knapp

· 2011 Rubina & Fareed Khan

· 2013 Brownie Shott

· 2015 Molly Roberts

Intervener Award

Given to an intervener who has demonstrated excellence in their role of support to a child with deafblindness and whose efforts have contributed to the success of the intervener model in Texas. Previous winners include:

· 2000 Ann Bielert, Houston, TX

· 2003 Mercedes Brown Killeen, TX

· 2005 Helen Porter, Amarillo, TX

· 2007 Kristen Riggs & Tasha Vaughn-Brittain, Regional Day School Program for the Deaf, Cypress-Fairbanks ISD

· 2009 Gloria Authement

· 2011 Irma Lopez, TSD, Austin, TX

· 2013 Laura Cornell, Granbury ISD and Chelsea Dean

· 2015 Ruthanne “Mimi” Garcia

Marty Murrell Excellence in Education Award

Given to a professional in education who has made a long-term commitment to excellence in education for Texas students with deafblindness. Previous winners include:

· 2000 Karen Buchine, RDSPD, Houston, TX

· 2003 Mary Scott, ESC Region 3, Victoria, TX

· 2005 Tish Smith, TSBVI, Austin, TX

· 2007 Sharon Parham, Supervisor, Sandy Chance Lead Teacher, Johanna Borg, Classroom Teacher, and Lisa Moore, Parent Infant Advisor, Regional Day School for the Deaf, Cypress-Fairbanks ISD

· 2009 Matt Schultz, TSBVI, Austin, TX

· 2011 Susan Lawrence, Region 10 ESC, Richardson, TX

· 2013 Jennifer Lester, Luis Miranda, Johanna Borg, Elsie Rao, Vicki Cole and Karen Lampkin-Johnson; Spring Branch ISD

· 2015 Cecilia Robinson, ESC Region 4, Houston, TX

Ann Silverrain Award

Given to any individual who has made an extraordinary commitment to improving the lives of individuals with deafblindness in the Texas. Previous winners include:

· 2000 Randy Feille, TCB, Austin, TX

· 2003 Steve Schoen, TRC, Austin, TX

· 2005 Gay Bellamy, San Antonio, TX

· 2007 Fran La Ware, Behavior Specialist TSBVI, Austin, TX

· 2009 Vivecca Hartman

· 2011 C. Colman Davis, (“C.C.”) DARS, Dallas TX

· 2013 Deanna Peterson, TSBVI

· 2015 Susan Starnes, DARS, Austin, TX

Please use the forms on the following pages to make a nomination

Awards for Excellence in Deafblindness

Texas Deafblind Symposium

March 3 & 4, 2017

Making Connections

Your Name:

Your Daytime Phone Number:

Best Time to Call:

Email Address:

I would like to nominate:

Award category: (underline one)

Fax (512) 206-9320; email or mail to:

Adam Graves c/o TSBVI Outreach, 1100 W. 45th Street, Austin, TX 78756

Trail Blazer Award

Intervener Award

Marty Murrell Excellence in Education Award

Ann Silverrain Award

Please complete nomination on the following page

Fax (512) 206-9320; email or mail to:

Adam Graves c/o TSBVI Outreach, 1100 W. 45th Street, Austin, TX 78756

Nominee’s address:

City: TX Zip

Nominee’s daytime phone number:

Best time to call:

Please provide some background information about the individual(s) you are nominating including information about why you feel they should receive this award.

Primary reason you are nominating this person: (Use additional paper if more space is needed. Do not exceed 1 additional page.)

Give one example of a significant contribution they have made related to the field of deafblindness or to an individual with deafblindness:

Please copy this form if you wish to nominate more than one individual for an award.

Fax (512) 206-9320; email or mail to:

Adam Graves c/o TSBVI Outreach, 1100 W. 45th Street, Austin, TX 78756