DADD Awards Nominations
The following awards are given each year through a nomination process by members and friends of DADD. We encourage anyone to nominate someone whom they believe should be recognized for their work, service, research, and/or leadership in the field of developmental disabilities and autism spectrum disorders. Nominations are submitted to the Awards Chair and then voted on by the voting members of the DADD Awards Committee. Awards will be presented at the DADD Annual Conference. The deadline for consideration of awards being given is October 18th. Nominees who are selected will be informed by mid-November of that year. All individuals wishing to nominate someone for an award are asked to complete a form that will be made available each year during the call for nominations. Descriptions of the awards: Teacher of the Year: Teachers may be nominated for this award by their peers, administrators, parents, or other professionals. A letter of nomination should be sent to the Awards Chair. Selection criteria include: (a) Currently teaching full or part-time, (b) Serving students with intellectual disability and/or autism, and (c) Exhibiting exemplary personal and professional skills. The teacher does not have to be a member of DADD, but preference will be given to those nominees who are members. Para-Educator of the Year: Para-educators may be nominated for this award by their peers, teachers, administrators, parents, or other professionals. A letter of nomination should be sent to the Awards Chair. Selection criteria include: (a) Currently working in an educational setting full or part-time, (b) Serving students with intellectual disability and/or autism, and (c) Exemplifying the best in supporting the education of students with autism and/or intellectual or developmental disabilities. Nominees do NOT have to be a member of DADD or CEC. Shriver–Kennedy Student Achievement Award: Presented to a young person up to age 25 who excels in one of the following areas: academics, arts, athletics, community service, employment, extracurricular activities, independent activities, technology, and self-advocacy. Students with an intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorder, or other developmental disability are eligible for this award. John W. Kidd Subdivision Award: Given for exceptional performance during the past year. Criteria include: (a) Maintaining membership integrity during the previous fiscal year, (b) Engaging in innovative programming, evidenced by plans and performance presented at time of application for award, and (c) Having active participation by members in DADD activities beyond the subdivision level. Burton Blatt Humanitarian Award: Presented to an individual who reflects the ideals of the Division and who has made significant contributions to the field of intellectual/developmental disabilities and/or autism. Criteria for selection include: (a) Exceptional effort and involvement in furthering the cause of persons with intellectual disability, developmental disabilities, and/or autism, and (b) DADD member. Legislative Award: Given to an individual who has demonstrated leadership in the area of legislation. Individuals are eligible for nomination if they have been involved in the development and/or support and/or enactment of legislation designed to meet needs of individuals with intellectual disability, developmental disabilities, and/or autism. Research Award: Presented to an individual who reflects the ideals of the Division and who has made significant contributions to the field of developmental disabilities through research. Selection criteria include: (a) Exceptional effort and involvement in furthering the cause of persons with intellectual disabilities, developmental disabilities, and/or autism through research, and (b) DADD member. Tom E. C. Smith Early Career Award: Given to someone who is beginning his/her career and showing promise as a teacher educator. Individuals who finished their doctoral work less than 5 years ago are eligible. These nominees must be contributing to teacher education in a significant way. |
DADD Awards Winners Dolly Gray: Please click here to check out the DADD Dolly Gray Children's Literature Award John W. Kidd Subdivision Award: 2004: Georgia 2008: Ontario 2013: Ontario 2014: Florida 2016: Arkansas 2020: Arkansas Burton Blatt Humanitarian Award: 1995: Pam Gillet 1998: Ed Polloway Unknown: Dave Smith Unknown: John Kidd 2001: Jim Patton 2002: Scott Sparks 2003: Sharon Kramer 2004: Brenda Smith Myles 2006: Ann & Rub Turnbull 2007: Bob Stodden 2008: Andy Berg 2009: Barbara Gartin 2010: Nikki Murdick 2012: Tina Dyches 2013: Tom Smith 2014: Brenda Smith Myles 2015: Stan Zucker 2016: Paul Alberto 2017: Stan Zucker 2018: Diane Browder 2019: Dianne Zager 2020: Teresa Taber Doughty 2021: Michael Wehmeyer 2022: Karrie Shogren 2023: James Thompson Legislative Award: 2002: Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD) 2008: Sen. Edward Kennedy 2013: Michael Fasano (FL) 2014: Sen. Tom Harkins (Iowa) 2015: David C. Onley (Ontario, Canada) 2022: Alison Tant (FL) Research Award: 2006: Michael Wehmeyer, University of Kansas 2013: Stan Zucker, Arizona State University 2014: Diane Browder, UNC at Charlotte 2015: Linda Mechling, UNC at Wilmington 2016: Erik Carter, Vanderbilt University 2017: Emily Bouck, Michigan State University 2018: Kevin Ayres, University of Georgia 2019: Vicki Knight, Vanderbilt University 2020: Juliet Hart Barnett, Arizona State University 2021: Matthew Brock, Ohio State University 2022: Shawnee Wakeman, UNC Charlotte 2023: Veronica Fleury, Florida State University Tom E. C. Smith Early Career Award: 2015: Jason Travers, University of Kansas 2016: Jordan Shurr, Central Michigan University 2017: Carly Roberts, Washington State University 2018: Melissa Spence, California Lutheran University 2019: Jenny Root, Florida State University 2021: Suzanne Kucharzyk, University of Arkansas 2022: Annemarie Horn, Old Dominion University 2023: Leslie Bross, University of North Carolina Charlotte Teacher of the Year: 2002: Debbie Wickmanowski (FL), Marilyn MacLean (ON), Leisa Morreau-Cummins (IL) 2003: Marcy Murray (FL), Beverly Wallace (GA) 2004: Pamela K DeLoach 2005: Jo MacDonald (MD), Melanie Abad (GA) 2017: Barbara Putnam 2019: Barbara Putnam 2021: Srinivas Pannela 2022: Sarah Staley 2023: Anne Katherine Griffin (KY) Para-Educator of the Year: 2002: Linda Byrlowski 2003: Ruth Hannon 2004: Betty-Sue Garrish 2005: Nancy Stowe (GA), Sandy Aronis (NY) 2016: Barbara Harris 2017: Heather Murphy 2022: Sue Krennrich Shriver–Kennedy Student Achievement Award: 2011: Jordan Obrecht 2013: Jesse Harbison 2016: Marissa Schletzbaum 2014: Eric Kirschner 2020: Michael Johnson 2021: Scott Fisher 2022: William Fitzgerald 2023: Jiya Rai |