Honoring the Changemakers

“Be the change you want to see in the world.” _{Mahatma Gandhi, 1869-1948}

From the playground to the legislature, thank you changemakers! MCDHH cannot do its work without the many changemakers who do little and big things every day to create positive change in the deaf, deafblind and hard of hearing communities. It is not possible to name all who deserve recognition here, but below are just a few in the community who MCDHH has formally recognized with awards or who have been recognized by other organizations for their contributions. We thank them, and hope this inspiring list helps to motivate others to action.

2011 Awards Ceremony – March 2nd in the State Capitol Rotunda

• Life Time Achievement Awards: Alan Parnes for his lifelong commitment to advocacy in employment and Marian Hausladen for her advocacy in education.
• Grass Roots Advocacy Award: Metro Deaf School for their successful advocacy for legislation that saved their school in 2010.
• Citizen Advocate Award: Sherri Rademacher for her ongoing advocacy with news stations and candidates for public office to follow federal and state captioning laws.
• Agency Partner Awards: Office of Enterprise Technology and Department of Administration for their excellent work in leading, adopting and implementing state technology accessibility standards. Accessibility Leadership Awards: Betsy Hayes, Rena Rogers, Colleen Wieck for their extraordinary work in implementing the law. Newly appointed Commissioners Spencer Cronk of Admin and Carolyn Parnell of OET accepted the awards. The Legislative Coordinating Commission, Senate Media Services and House Media Services for their implementation of live captioning of floor sessions and committee hearings.
• Accessible News Outlet Media Excellence: The Uptake was the only media outlet that covered candidates’ captioning of ads during the 2010 campaign. This resulted in more candidates complying with the state candidate captioning law. The Uptake also voluntarily captioned every gubernatorial debate online.
• Accessible NonProfit Captioning Excellence: The Minnesota Council of Nonprofits adopted a policy of captioning all of its online videos.
• Most Accessible Campaign Awards: Tom Emmer, Governor Mark Dayton, State Auditor Rebecca Otto, Secretary of State Mark Ritchie, Tom Horner, Congressman Tim Walz all received awards for captioning their campaign ads.
• Advocacy Through the Arts Award: Barbara Allen, Nancy Meyers and Anita Buel for their extraordinary film, “Signing On”. This film will change the way doctors treat patients and will empower people who are deaf to get the health care services they need in American Sign Language.
• Community Justice Award: Officer Chad Koch initiated programs within the St. Paul Police Department to provide education to officers and outreach to the Deaf community.

2009 Awards Ceremony – March 4th in State Capitol Rotunda

Most Accessible Campaign of 2008: Al Franken

Lifetime Achievement and Leadership Award: Marty Barnum

Community Organizer Awards:
Alicia Lane-Outlaw and Richard Taylor: TCDeaf.com
Sonny Wasilowski: Deafminnesota.com
Ade Haugen: DBM (DeafBlind MN Listserv)
Candace Lindow Davies: Minnesota Hands and Voices

Civil Service and Civic Engagement Awards:
Advocacy & Civil Service: John Gross of Minnesota Department of Commerce
Civic Engagement: Teika Pakalns and Trudy Suggs
Agency Partner: Minnesota Governor’s Council on Developmental Disability
Voting Access: Minnesota Office of the Secretary of State
Exemplary Access: The Legislative Coordinating Commission
Website Access: Minnesota Legislative Networking Group

National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) Medallion Award
Presented by Secretary of State, Mark Ritchie, to Emory Dively & Trudy Suggs

2008

Our Champions!

Rep. Bill Hilty : Candidate Campaign Ad Captioning
Rep. Jeremy Kalin : MCDHH Name Change & Electronic Meetings
Sen. Tony Lourey : MCDHH Name Change & Electronic Meetings
Sen. Ann Lynch : Newborn Screening & Hearing Aid Loaner Bank (cont.)
Sen. Ann Rest : Legislation for Political Process Access
Sen. Dave Senjem : Dedication for Individuals who are Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing

State Systems Access Award

Minnesota Courts Access: Katrin Johnson

2007

Our Champions!

Sen. Linda Berglin : Funds for SSPs and Intervenors
Sen. Scott Dibble transition from school to Work/Higher Ed.
Rep. Patti Fritz : Dedication to Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing People
Rep. Mindy Greiling : EHDI Education Coordinator
Rep. Bob Gunther : Increased Funds for MCDHH
Rep. Tom Huntley : Hearing Aid Loaner Bank
Rep. Margaret Anderson Kelliher : Early Hearing Detection & Intervention
Sen. Ann Lynch : Hearing Aid Loaner Bank
Sen. John Marty : Early Hearing Detection and Intervention
Sen. James Metzen : Funding for MCDHH
Rep. Erin Murphy : Parent Guides
Rep. Mary Murphy : Funds for VECTOR
Rep. Mary Olson : Deaf Mentor
Sen. Dallas Sams : Employment and Consumer Protection
Rep. Marty Seifert : Newborn Screening Mandate
Sen. Dave Senjem : Newborn Hearing Screening Mandate
Rep. Anthony Sertich : Hearing Aids (all 0-18)
Sen. Kathy Sheran : Parent Guides
Rep. Nora Slawik : EHDI Coordinator
Senator Sam Solon : Early Hearing Detection and Intervention
Sen. LeRoy Stumpf : Funds for State Academy of the Deaf
Rep. Kathy Tingelstad : Ongoing Support & Advice
Sen. David Tomassoni : Hearing Aids (all 0-18)
Sen. Charles Wiger : Statewide EHDI Coordinator

Advocacy & Leadership Awards

Access to Civic Education & Engagement: Secretary of State Mark Ritchie
Access to Justice: Rick MacPherson, Attorney, Minnesota Disability Law Center
Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Champion: Penny Hatcher
Access to the Arts: Stacia Rice
Best Ex-Officio Board Member: Bruce Hodek
Citizen Advocate: Rhonda Sivarajah and Jamie Taylor
Community Partner: Minnesota Association of Deaf Citizens
Exemplary Community Service: Jan Florand