The Durward K. McDaniel Ambassador Award is given in recognition of a blind person who may or may not be a member of a blindness organization but who has, through his or her personal characteristics and activities, unrelated to his/her employment, contributed most to the acceptance and understanding of blind people as capable, contributing members of the community.
Originally called the Ambassador Award, this award was first given in 1963. The first recipient was Jearldine Noeller. More recent recipients include Durward K. McDaniel (1983), Roger Petersen (1999), Ed Walker (2003), Dr. W. Aubrey Webson (2017), and Allan Peterson (2021).
The George Card Award is given to an individual who has dedicated his or her life to work with and for people who are blind, making a real difference and improving quality of life, for providing leadership and being a positive role model.
George Card was the first recipient of this award in 1968. Card’s leadership roles included that of executive secretary of the Wisconsin Council of the Blind, member of the ACB Board of Directors, and delegate to the World Council for the Welfare of the Blind. (from “People of Vision,” Chapter 4, in the section “1948: The 7th NFB Convention - Baltimore, Maryland.”) More recent recipients include Eugene Lozano (1993), Charles Crawford (1998), Abraham Nemeth (2002), and Camille Caffarelli (2020).
The James R. Olsen Distinguished Service Award is periodically given to individuals who have made important contributions which have advanced opportunities for the blind community. This award can be given to an individual or an organization.
This award was originally named the Distinguished Service Award. It was renamed for James R. “Jim” Olsen following his passing in 2005. Previous winners include Kathy Megivern (1997), Shirley Keller of Creative Adaptations for Learning (2001), Jim Olsen (2005), Leroy Johnson (2007), and Kim Crowell and the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art (2021).
The Robert S. Bray Award is given to a person who has made a contribution for improving library technology or communication devices. It could also be given for expanding access for all blind people, or for making opportunities within the mainstream media.
This award was named for Robert S. Bray, who was chief of the Division for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress - now known as the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled. The first recipient was Charles La Casce (1977). Other recipients include James Chandler (1983), Stephen Dwornik (1994), Jim Stovall (1995), Jim Fruchterman (2002), and Karen Keninger (2020).
The Margarine G. Beaman Volunteer Recognition Award honors individuals who have given tirelessly of their efforts, resources, expertise or time toward improving the quality of life in the blindness community. The achievements, accomplishments or service, on which the nominations are based must reflect ACB’s vision and mission. This award may be given to a deserving individual or organization.
This award was named for Margarine Beaman, who was the convention’s volunteer coordinator. It was first given in 2016 to Margarine Beaman. Other winners include Sally Benjamin (2017), Patti Cox (2019), and Michael Smitherman (2020).
The Affiliate Outreach Award is based on a recommendation by an affiliate president, which recognizes a local chapter for a new outreach program. This program must have a measurable outcome.
The Affiliate Outreach Award was first presented in 2000 to the Council of Citizens with Low Vision International. Other previous winners include the Middle Tennessee Council of the Blind (2009), ACB of Ohio-Columbus Chapter (2015), and Friends ‘n Focus-Medina (Ohio) chapter (2021).
The Affiliate Growth Awards are based on the greatest increase in membership, as determined by the annual membership reports. One award is given for the greatest percentage of growth, and another is presented to the affiliate with the largest number of new members. The 2021 winners are ACB Next Generation (for a 136.67% growth in membership) and Blind Information Technology Specialists (81 new members).