American Foundation for the Blind Announces Call for Nominations for 2011 Migel Medals

New York, NY (August 13, 2010)—Today, the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) announced an invitation for nominations for the 2011 Migel Medals, the highest honor in the blindness field. The 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 significantly improved the lives of people who are blind or visually impaired. The Migel Medal Awards consists of two categories, the Professional Award and the Lay Volunteer Award.

Professional Award nominees should be those whose career work significantly impacted services to people with vision loss on a national level. Prospective candidates include, but are not limited to, professionals with specific training and expertise in education, rehabilitation, assistive technology, vision rehabilitation, personnel preparation, administration, or related fields. They may work in the public or private sector and their work should span several years.

Lay Volunteer Award nominees may be volunteers or employees within the blindness and visual impairment field whose efforts have supported or extended service to people with vision loss. Professionals from other disciplines may include, but are not limited to, those who develop assistive technology equipment and software, health care devices, and improved medical services.

Past Migel Medal recipients include:

2010

Dr. Tuck Tinsley III, President, American Printing House for the Blind.
Deane B. Blazie, an electrical engineer and developer of the Braille 'n Speak.

2009

Dr. Susan Jay Spungin, an internationally renowned expert on the education and rehabilitation of individuals who are blind or visually impaired.
Senator Tom Harkin, the lead sponsor of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and a continuous advocate for people with disabilities.
Congressman Edward Markey, a leading force behind accessible telecommunications accessibility.

For a list of Migel recipients, visit http://www.afb.org/Section.asp?SectionID=28&TopicID=153&DocumentID=2248.

Nominations for AFB's Migel Medals are due by Monday, September 27, 2010, and should be e-mailed to Pris Rogers, Senior Site Program Manager, AFB Center on Vision Loss, at pris@afb.net. Nominators should send a one-page description of the nominee and his/her accomplishments, or fill out our online nomination form at www.afb.org/MigelNomination

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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.

Media Contact:
Adrianna Montague-Devaud
AFB Communications
212-502-7615
amontague@afb.net