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Awards

 

Photo of a gold star, presumably an award, on a purple background. Text: AUCD Awards. Includes AUCD 2017 conference logo in the bottom left corner.

The annual AUCD Awards gives us an opportunity to recognize individuals, programs, and organizations that have demonstrated exceptional leadership and made outstanding contributions. We honor their advocacy, research, policy, and practice that further diversifies and creates more inclusive communities for people with disabilities and their families. Comprised of 11 categories, the AUCD awards represent the 'best of the best' within our network, and local, state, and federal partners.

This year, we are both launching and closing our call for awards nominations earlier to allow more time to prepare an ever evolving awards ceremony experience. We look forward to sharing our plans for the evening with you once we launch the conference registration this summer.

We know the depth, breadth, and expertise of our trainees, advocates, professionals, and partners is extraordinary and deserving of recognition. In preparation for this year’s conference, we invite you to Lift Your Voice and nominate someone who truly inspires you.

 

-AUCD Planning Committee

 
 

 

Deadline for 2017 Nominations: July 14

AUCD Awards & Descriptions

*Please note that all awards have a nomination deadline of July 14. All awards should be submitted via the online nomination form. Please pay close attention to the information requested when submitting a nomination.

Contact Laura Martin at AUCD with any questions you have about AUCD awards.

Lifetime Achievement Award

The Lifetime Achievement Award is given to individuals making a lifetime commitment to serving people with developmental disabilities and their families. There is no public nomination form for this award; please contact AUCD to suggest a nominee.

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George S. Jesien Distinguished Achievement Award 

This award recognizes a UCEDD, LEND or IDDRC executive, faculty or staff member who has demonstrated a distinguished career of excellence and leadership in support of AUCD's mission to advance policy and practice for and with people living with developmental and other disabilities, their families and communities. The nomination letter should include a description of the candidate's accomplishments in research, education and service. Information relevant to the community, scientific, educational, organizational, or political environment in which the candidate's accomplishments were made may be included in the narrative to support the nomination. The award was renamed after one of AUCD's distinguished past-Executive Directors, George S. Jesien, PhD, on his retirement in 2013.

 

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Special Recognition Award

The AUCD Special Recognition Award is presented to an individual, group, or organization outside of the AUCD network to recognize outstanding contributions toward creating more inclusive communities for people with developmental disabilities and their families. The award is given in recognition of professional and personal efforts in a programmatic area that proactively supports people with developmental disabilities and their families at the local, state, or national level. If a group or organization is being nominated for the Special Recognition Award, the name(s) of key people directly involved in the noted accomplishments should be provided.

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Leadership in Advocacy Award

The Leadership in Advocacy Award is presented to an outstanding individual or family member who has exhibited exceptional leadership and self-advocacy skills in the area of developmental disabilities. The nomination should include a description of the nominee's activities that demonstrate the individual's leadership and self-advocacy skills. The description should list agencies and events in which the nominee was involved that have made a significant difference in the lives of individuals with disabilities.

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Young Professional Award

This award is presented to professionals in the disabilities field under the age of 40 years who have demonstrated dedication and commitment to people with developmental disabilities and their families through their work as a bridge between the academic sector and the community. Nominations should include a description of activities exemplifying the nominee's contributions. The nominee's birth date, including the year, should be included on the nomination page.

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Anne Rudigier Award

Presented by the Rudigier Family to commemorate the accomplishments and commitment of their daughter Anne, this award recognizes an outstanding trainee/student demonstrating a commitment to supporting people with developmental disabilities and their families. Any UCEDD or LEND faculty member may nominate a trainee/student. The nomination should include a description of the nominee's activities while enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program that demonstrate how he/she has made a difference in the life of an individual with a developmental disability. Please include the name of the school(s) in which the trainee/student is enrolled currently, and the school where activities for which the trainee/student is being nominated occurred (if different). Trainees/students currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program and in good academic standing are eligible. The awardee will receive $500 from the Anne Rudigier Scholarship fund.

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Multicultural Council Award for Leadership in Diversity

The Multicultural Council Award for Leadership in Diversity is presented to an Association member or group in recognition of:

  • their exhibited leadership and commitment to advancing programs and practices aimed toward increasing the diversity, cultural, and/or linguistic competencies (in curriculum, services, supports, research, and recruitment) within a Center and the AUCD network as a whole
  • exemplary programs and practices addressing the areas of diversity, cultural, and/or linguistic competencies (in curriculum, services, supports, research, and recruitment) within a Center and the AUCD network as a whole
  • significant contributions in furthering the cause of diversity understanding for the needs of families seeking disability services.

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Council on Community Advocacy Award

The Council on Community Advocacy Award will be presented to the UCEDD that:

  • has exhibited the strongest commitment to support the full and active participation of self advocates and family members on its consumer advisory council;
  • has demonstrated leadership in the promotion and use of assistive technology to enhance the lives and participation of individuals with disabilities (i.e. may have a model program);
  • has an outstanding record in providing and encouraging best or promising practices in person and family centered principles; and
  • utilizes culturally competent approaches and overall consumer accessibility in all aspects of their mission (including publications, activities, and projects).

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Gold Star Award

Established in 2002, the AUCD Gold Star Award is presented to a Capitol Hill staffer who exemplifies a true partnership in crafting strong public policy. This award recognizes the staffer for his/her professional and personal efforts to craft policy and implement programs with input from AUCD and the greater disability community, thus supporting AUCD in achieving its mission to advance policy and practice for and with people living with developmental and other disabilities, their families, and communities.

  • Past recipients:
    2004 Amy Judge (Representative Langevin's Office)
    2005 Ellen Murray (Senate, Labor HHS, Education Appropriations Subcommittee)
    2006 Aaron Bishop (Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee Professional Staff)
    2007 Connie Garner (Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee Professional Staff)
    2008 Sharon Lewis (Disability Policy Advisor to George Miller (D-CA), Chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee)
    2009 Kenneth DeGraff (Legislative Director to Congressman Mike Doyle, D-PA)
    2010 Adrienne Hallett, MTS (Professional Staff, Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee)
    2010 Lisa Bernhardt, MPP (Professional Staff, Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee)
    2011 Michael Barnard (Legislative Assistant, Senator Robert Menendez, D-NJ)
    2011 Tim Lynagh (Deputy Chief of Staff, Representative Christopher H. Smith, R-NJ)
    2012 Andrew J. Imparato (U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education,
    Labor and Pensions Professional Staff)
    2013 Karen Summar, MD, MS (Legislative Counsel to Rep. Cathy McMorris-Rodgers, R-WA)
    2014 Cate Benedetti (Staffer for Rep. Christopher Smith, R-NJ)
    2015 Jennifer Debes (Staffer for Rep. Ander Crenshaw, R-FL)
    2016 Jake Cornett, MA (Senior Advisor, The Office of US Senator Patty Murray)

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International Service Award

The AUCD International Service Award is presented to an individual or group inside or outside of the AUCD network to recognize outstanding contributions that further programs or policies designed to create more inclusive communities for people with disabilities and their families throughout the world. The award is given in recognition of personal and professional efforts in program areas that proactively support people with disabilities and their families at local, regional, or national levels in the host country.

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CORE Trainee Research Award

The Council on Research and Evaluation (CORE) Trainee Research Award is intended to recognize the efforts of emerging researchers. For the purpose of this award, research is defined as Experimental or Quasi-experimental Designs; Single Subject Designs; Single Case Designs; Correlational Designs; or Qualitative Designs. This award is given to anyone who is a current AUCD network trainee (i.e., LEND or UCEDD) or who completed training within the last 2 years of the award year. This award was established in 2015.

 

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Deadline for 2017 Nominations: July 14

 

Discontinued Awards, Nominations No Longer Accepted

Outstanding Achievement Award

The Outstanding Achievement Award was discontinued in 2015. This award recognized a UCEDD, LEND, or IDDRC executive, faculty, or staff member who has demonstrated excellence in three major areas of the field -- teaching, scholarship, and service to the wider community.

Meritorious Service Award

The AUCD Meritorious Service Award was discontinued in 2015. This award was presented to an Association member or group in recognition of professional and personal efforts that proactively support AUCD in achieving its mission to advance policy and practice for and with people living with developmental and other disabilities, their families, and communities. The focus of this award is service to the Association in a way that has helped build the capacity of AUCD to support its members and thereby improve the lives of individuals with disabilities and their families.