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Awards

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AAIDD honors selected individuals or groups who have made outstanding contributions to the field. 

Purpose

The purpose of AAIDD's annual awards is to recognize those who have made significant contributions that have influenced positive change in the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities over an extended period of time. 

 

Award Categories and Eligible Nominees

  1. AAIDD membership is not required to be selected for an award.
  2. Self-nominations are not allowed. This means that (a) a person may not nominate themselves for an individual award and (b) an employee/representative of an organization may not nominate that organization for an organizational award.
  3. Recipients may receive no more than one award a year.
  4. Activities of award recipients must have a national or international impact.*
  5. Posthumous awards are not given (except for nominees who died within the calendar year in which the award nomination is made)
  6. National AAIDD Board members are not eligible during their term of office.
  7. Individuals will not be considered if they have received an award within the last five (5) years. 
  8. Decisions of the Awards and Fellowship Committee will prevail. Incomplete and self-nominations will not considered by the Awards and Fellowship Committee.

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*Except for those recognized with the Service to the Association award for Chapter/Regional contributions and those recognized with the Full Community Inclusion award.

 

The Nomination process for 2025 is now closed.
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Award

Eligibility

Early Career

Awarded for contribution to or achievement in the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities by an individual in the early stages of their career.

Award is presented to an individual.

An early career professional is a person who has been active in the field for less than 10 years or is less than 10 years post graduate school at the time of nomination.

Education

Awarded for significant contributions to dissemination of knowledge in the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Award is presented to an individual.  
Full Community Inclusion

Awarded to culturally responsive programs that have succeeded in full community inclusion and participation.

Award is presented to an organization or program that directly serves people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and that:

1. Is designed to and is successful in assuring the full community inclusion and participation of the people who receive services from the program;
2. Empowers local communities in fully including individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities;
3. Serves as an inspiration for other community efforts at the local, state, regional, national, and/or international levels; and
4. Respects and is responsive to local cultures.

Historic Preservation

Awarded for contributions to historic preservation of the archives of the field of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and/or the Association.

Award is presented to an individual, organization, or program.
Humanitarian

Awarded for promotion of human welfare and social reform.

Award is presented to an individual.  
International

Awarded for outstanding contributions in research, education, service, or advocacy that has had an impact on people with intellectual and developmental disabilities within a particular country or across national lines.

Award is presented to an individual who is a citizen of a country other than the US or Canada.
Leadership

Awarded for courage and dedication resulting in an outstanding contribution to the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Award is presented to an individual.  
Media

Awarded for significant contributions in depicting Americans with disabilities in a positive light.

Award is presented to an individual, organization, or program that has depicted Americans with disabilities in the nominated medium in a positive light. 

Note: A copy of or access to (URL, database, etc.) the work(s) must be provided.

Policy

Awarded for significant contributions to public policy that has advanced the field and resulted in positive outcomes for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Award is presented to an individual or organization.
Research

Awarded for formulations and investigations that have contributed significantly to the body of scientific knowledge in the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Award is presented to an individual.
Service to the Association

Awarded for significant leadership contributions to a Chapter, Region, Interest Network, or the national organization.

Award is presented to an individual.
Service to the Field

Awarded for contributions to the impact of the interdependent professions that work for and with people with IDD in alignment with AAIDD’s mission.

Award is presented to an individual.
Special

Awarded for an unusual or significant contribution or achievement not covered by other award categories.

Award is presented to an individual, organization, or program.
Student

Recognizes student contributions in service, leadership, or scholarship to the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Award is presented to an individual.

A student is a person who was a full-time or part-time student enrolled in a degree program at the time of nomination.

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