Awards
CCC-DPHMD has four awards named in honor of former members who made great contributions to the field of complex and chronic conditions, including physical and health disabilities: Joan Wald Baken, Pamela K. De Loach, Albert R. Goldsmith, and Elizabeth Wetzel). Nominations for awards should be submitted through the links listed below each award.
Awards
The Joan Wald Baken Award was established in 1997 to honor the memory of a devoted member of CCC-DPHMD who dedicated herself to individuals with physical and health disabilities. Up to two awards are given annually to individuals whose accomplishments represent exemplary advocacy and educational practice. The recipient must be involved in direct delivery of services to individuals with physical and health disabilities in schools, hospitals, clinics, homes, or in the community. Self nominations or nominations by colleagues will be accepted.
Past Winners
This award honors the memory of long-time CCC-DPHMD member and past president, Pamela (Pam) K. De Loach. As a young woman with cerebral palsy before the passage of the Education for All Handicapped Children Act (now IDEA), Pam had to fight to get a quality education. In the 1970s, Pam had to fight to be accepted into a college teacher preparation program so she could become a special educator. She spent over 30 years as a teacher of students with severe and multiple disabilities and constantly advocated for her students to receive quality educational services. While teaching, she continuously had to advocate for herself in order to get reasonable accommodations to which she was entitled under federal civil rights laws. In 2007, when (then) DPHD experienced a crisis resulting in attrition of leadership, Pam stepped up and served as president and treasurer for two years. She is largely responsible for CCC-DPHMD remaining a viable division as she fought to rebuild the leadership and finances of the Division. Pam served three years on the Council for Exceptional Children’s Board of Directors during which time she fought for small divisions, including CCC-DPHMD. In 2011, Pam underwent a double lung transplant due to pulmonary fibrosis, again having to fight for herself as a candidate with a disability. After her surgery, she became an advocate for organ donation. On December 7, 2017, Pam passed away, leaving her mark on her family, friends, colleagues, and students as well as the field of special education, particularly CCC-DPHMD.
The Pamela K. De Loach Advocacy Award honors individuals or groups who demonstrate strong advocacy on behalf of themselves or others who have physical, health, or multiple disabilities. Up to two recipients (individual or group) are awarded annually. Recipients of the award do not have to be CCC-DPHMD members, but the person nominating the individual or group needs to be a member. To nominate yourself, another person, or a group for this award, click the link below:
In February, 2018, the first award was presented in honor of Pam to her family. Click here for information about presentation of the award.
Congratulations to the first awardee of the Pamela K. De Loach Advocacy Award, Amanda C. Korb. Click here for information about Amanda's advocacy accomplishments!
The Albert R. Goldsmith Teacher Award was established to honor a lifelong CEC member and former CCC-DPHMD president who left a very generous donation in his estate to CCC-DPHMD. Mr. Goldsmith was a teacher of students who were served in home placements in Pennsylvania; he made contributions in numerous ways to his community that impacted the lives of children with and without disabilities. The award will grant $250 to a teacher for instructional materials for students in general or special education classrooms, home settings, or hospital settings. Up to two awards will be given annually to teachers who teach students birth through 22 years old who have complex and chronic conditions including physical, health, or multiple disabilities. Applicants should (1) have been a member of CCC-DPHMD for a minimum of two years, (2) submit a statement that includes a description of how the money will be spent and what student needs will be met with the materials that are purchased, and (3) within three months of receiving the award, submit a short synopsis to be published in the CCC-DPHMD newsletter that describes how receiving the award made a difference to the students.
Congratulations to our 2018 Albert R. Goldsmith Award winner, Krystal Carrillo.
The Elizabeth Wetzel Scholarship awards up to $500 to student members of CCC-DPHMD working toward a teaching credential in physical and health disabilities.
Congratulations to past Wetzel Scholarship winners: Elizabeth Dicker of New Jersey and Justine Ferry of Michigan.