AFB Announces 2010 Migel Medal Recipients

New York, NY (January 11, 2010)—The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) is pleased to announce the 2010 winners of the prestigious Migel Medals, the highest honor in the blindness field. The 2010 Professional Award recipient is Tuck Tinsley III, President, American Printing House for the Blind and the 2010 Migel Lay Volunteer Award recipient is Deane B. Blazie, an electrical engineer and developer of the Braille 'n Speak.

"This year's awardees have created products and technology that help people with vision loss thrive in the classroom, the workplace, and in their daily activities," said Carl R. Augusto, President and CEO of the American Foundation for the Blind. "We are honored to publicly recognize Tuck and Deane for their incredible contributions to the field of blindness and low vision."

The AFB Migel Medal was established in 1937 by the late M.C. Migel, the first chairperson of AFB, to honor professionals and volunteers whose dedication and achievements have improved the lives of people who are blind or visually impaired.

The 2010 Migel Lay Volunteer Award recipient is Deane B. Blazie.

Deane B. Blazie, an electrical engineer with an advanced degree in computer science, has contributed tremendously to the field of blindness. In 1986 he formed Blazie Engineering and developed the Braille 'n Speak, the world's first notetaker with braille key input and speech or data output. Notetakers allow blind students and professionals to easily take class or meeting notes, manage contacts and calendars, and perform other day-to-day organizing tasks. Mr. Blazie was also instrumental in the development of other hardware products for people who are blind, including braille embossers and refreshable braille displays. Mr. Blazie's contributions to the blindness field and his business success have been widely recognized. He was a winner of the Johns Hopkins First National Search for Devices for the Handicapped, and the first winner of the Winston Gordon Award from the Canadian National Institute for the Blind. He was named 1990 Humanitarian Entrepreneur of the Year by Ernst & Young, Merrill Lynch and Inc. magazine, and the National Federation of the Blind presented him its Golden Keys Award for Research Excellence.

Deane B. Blazie will be honored January 28, 2010 during the ATIA conference in Orlando, FL.

The 2010 Professional Award Recipient is Tuck Tinsley III.

Dr. Tuck Tinsley's positive leadership of the American Printing House for the Blind for over 20 years has guided the company to an era of collaboration with the entire field of blindness. By refocusing APH on its original mission of providing accessible textbooks, while opening the doors to the field and inviting adaptive product ideas, Dr. Tinsley has profoundly impacted the education of students who are blind and visually impaired. Among his accolades, he has received COSB's William H. English Leadership Award, the VisionServe Alliance Excellence in Leadership Award, the Kentucky AER Exceptional Service Award, and the Distinguished Alumni Award in Business and Industry by the Florida State University College of Education. He serves on a number of boards and committees, including the Kentucky School for the Blind Charitable Foundation and the World Blind Union.

Tuck Tinsley will be honored during the 2010 APH conference taking place October 14-16 in Louisville, KY.

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The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) is a national nonprofit that expands possibilities for people with vision loss. AFB's priorities include broadening access to technology; elevating the quality of information and tools for the professionals who serve people with vision loss; and promoting independent and healthy living for people with vision loss by providing them and their families with relevant and timely resources. AFB is also proud to house the Helen Keller Archives and honor the more than forty years that Helen Keller worked tirelessly with AFB. For more information visit us online at www.afb.org.

Contact:
Adrianna Montague-Gray
212-502-7615
amontaguegray@afb.net