GITWL Awards
Two awards are given under the auspices of Getting In Touch With Literacy.
The Holbrook-Humphries Literacy Award is presented to an individual who has made significant impact in promoting literacy skills for individuals who are blind and visually impaired. First presented at the GITWL conference in San Francisco in 1999, and named after conference co-founders Cay Holbrook and Janie Humphries Blome, this award honors an individual who has demonstrated innovative ideas, practical implications for intervention, professional publications, and commitment to improving literacy for students and/or adults with visual impairments.
The Alan Koenig Research Award is given in recognition of an identifiable body of research that provides insight, instruction, and information regarding literacy instruction in braille and print. First given in at the GITWL conference in Denver in 2005, this award is given in memory of AIan Koenig a pioneer in the field of literacy research for students with visual impairments. The winner of this award has established an identifiable body of research that provide insight, instruction, and information regarding literacy instruction in braille and print.
Holbrook-Humphries Award Criteria
The Holbrook-Humphries Award will be given to an individual who has shown a
demonstrated commitment to improving literacy for students and/or adults with
visual impairments. Consideration for nomination may include:
Creative ideas that promote and enhance all kinds of literacy for
children and adults who are blind and visually impaired.
Innovative and practical strategies and practices for instruction,
leading to successful growth and learning for students.
Creation, development and support of high impact programs and
initiatives that lead to the promotion of literacy and growth of literacy
skills for students and adults who are blind and visually impaired.
Dissemination of information through presentations and professional
publications.
Development of proven curricula or instructional materials.
Increase awareness and impact of literacy for all readers and pre-
readers.
National impact of achievements
Complete your nomination for the next Holbrook-Humphries Award
recipient here.
Alan Koenig Research Award Criteria
The Alan Koenig Research Award will be given to an individual who has created an identifiable body of research that provides insight, knowledge, and information regarding literacy instruction in braille and print. Consideration for nomination may include:
Published research focused on the impact and importance of literacy for children and/or adults who are blind and visually impaired.
Research supporting innovative instruction and/or learning strategies.
Research that advances the fields of literacy, reading and/or blindness and visual impairment.
Research leading to or supporting new curricula or instructional materials.
National impact of achievements
Complete your nomination for the next Alan Koenig Research Award
recipient here.
Previous Award Winners
Holbrook- Humphries Award
1999 Cay Holbrook and Janie Humphries Blome
2001 Sally Mangold
2003 Alan J. Koenig
2005 Frances Mary D'Andrea
2007 Diane Wormsley
2009 Mary Ann Siller
2011 Anna Swenson
2013 Nancy Niebrugge
2015 Jane Thompson
2017 Ike Presley
2019 Kathy Senft-Graves
Alan Koenig Research Award
2005 Cay Holbrook
2007 Anne Corn
2009 Gordon Legge
2011 Diane Wormsley
2013 Ralph Bartley
2015 Kay Ferrell
2017 Cheryl Kamei-Hannah
2019 Tessa McCarthy
