The E. B. Whitten Silver Medallion Award was established in 1974 in honor of the Association's first Executive Director. The award is presented to an individual who has exercised notable leadership in removing environmental and legal barriers and in helping to overcome discrimination of persons with disabilities. He actively participated in groundbreaking legislation, advocacy, and improvements to the rehabilitation profession.

Criteria:

Contribution may be national (regional, or local) but must have been of such importance to influence action on a regional or national basis.  

Actions must have contributed to the purpose of NRA mission of enhancing the lives of people with disabilities.  

Recipient must have exercised notable leadership: (a) in removing environmental and legal barriers, and/or (b) in overcoming discrimination which keeps people with disabilities from living normal lives and enjoying the rights and benefits due every American citizen.

While not a requirement, preference is given to members of the Association.

Named for Max T. Prince, a member of the Missouri Rehabilitation Association. Max T. Prince was well known for his efforts on behalf of persons with disabilities. He was respected by the rehabilitation community both locally and nationally. He was an extremely generous man who was known to give of his time and resources to those in need. When he died unexpectedly in a car accident in 1998, the Max T. Prince Award was established in his honor.  This award is given to an individual who has demonstrated years of faithful service and leadership to NRA.

Criteria:

Current Member who has provided outstanding membership effort and demonstrated leadership at the national, regional, division, or state chapter level for a period of 10-15 years. This can be as a board member, on a committee, or any role that positively impacts the development of the National Rehabilitation Association and its mission.

W. F. Faulkes Award 

The W. F. Faulkes Award is presented for technical or professional achievement in the field of rehabilitation. It is awarded to a person or organization, which in the preceding years has made a contribution of national importance to the increase of knowledge in the field of rehabilitation, or of the development of techniques or methods in the application of such knowledge, or to the prevention of disability. It was established in 1954 in the name of the Association's founder and first president.

Criteria:

What are your products (research articles, techniques)? Please list them.

What is the impact of these products? (i.e., how many author and others have cited the produce(s), how may have used the technique(s)) – If you have more than one product, please list them individually.

What are the outlets of the product(s)/where have the products been used (journals, presentations, rehabilitation counseling practices, etc.)?

Please list outlets.

Please include a letter detailing why the person is a good nominee.

Please include two letters of recommendations.

Please include supporting documents.

Sylvia Walker National Multicultural Award

The Sylvia Walker Award is named after a professor, researcher, and director of the first federal Research and Training Center (RTC) focused on minority issues and disability, who served as a longtime advocate for multicultural issues in rehabilitation. Established in 2004, the award is intended to (a) honor/recognize an NRA member/group or organization in addressing multicultural issues at the local regional or national level, (b) maintain, and stimulate the Association’s (NRA) focus on diversity and multiculturalism as a part of society.

Criteria:

1. Is the nominee an active member of a state chapter, region, or division of the National Rehabilitation Association?

2. How does the nominee demonstrate leadership in advancing multicultural issues within his or her sphere of influence?

3. Provide examples of how the nominee addresses multicultural issues and how their efforts have had a positive impact on service planning and/or delivery.  

4. Explain how the nominee’s actions enhance the profession and/or organization.

Bell Greve Memorial Award

The Bell Greve Memorial Award is presented to a person who has shown unusual initiative or creativity in developing and/or administering a service program for people with disabilities.  The award is named for Bell Greve, founder of the Cleveland Rehabilitation Center. A pioneer in the development and provision of relief and rehabilitation services to the poor, sick, and people with disabilities. She gained international distinction for her work with local, state, and international social service agencies.

Criteria:

Provide the name of the service program and location (city, state).

Offer a description of the program, and how it helps people with disabilities. 

Describe the unusual initiative and/or creativity efforts involved in developing and/or administering the service program.

Describe why this individual would be the best nominee to receive the Bell Greve Memorial Award.

Please include any supporting documents you deem appropriate.

NRA Chapter of the Year Award

Outstanding achievement in the effort to advance the mission of the National Rehabilitation Association at the chapter level.

Criteria:  

To be considered for this award, the state chapter must be in good standing with the National Rehabilitation Association. In addition, the following questions must be addressed in your nomination of the state chapter.

Has the chapter:

Demonstrated exemplary activities in professional training (e.g., for VR professionals, other stakeholders, graduate VR students). What specifically did they do and in which of these areas?

What did they participate in, and what activities related to public awareness of vocational rehabilitation services, membership in NRA, and employment of people with disabilities were carried out?

What activities are related to consumer advocacy (e.g., for consumers, employers, families, professionals, and other stakeholders)?

How have they been actively working toward increasing chapter/National membership growth through media, social media, events, conferences, and other effective ways?

In what ways have they consistently been viewed as innovative, creative, and willing to respond to the changing needs of membership?

The Roger Carter Award of Excellence for a Large Employer

This award was created to honor an employer (national, regional and/or local) which has demonstrated exemplary achievement in the recruitment, hiring and retention of persons with disabilities throughout all levels within the company for a Large Employer (100+ employees). 

Roger Carter was a Rehabilitation Counselor with Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services.  He understood and promoted the partnership with the rehabilitation agency, consumer, and employer.  

Criteria:

What agencies, partnerships, or networks were used to recruit and employ persons with disabilities?

What specific guidance did they seek that made employment options successful?

What services were utilized (On the Job Training, job shadowing, assessments, accommodations, etc.)

How did they learn of your services and what processes were used to introduce and use your program?

Describe their experience with employing persons with disabilities, outcomes, concerns, and suggestions for improvement.

Employer Award for small employer 

This award was created to honor an employer (national, regional and/or local) which has demonstrated exemplary achievement in the recruitment, hiring and retention of persons with disabilities throughout all levels within the company for a Small Employer (under 100 employees).

Criteria:

What agencies, partnerships, or networks were used to recruit and employ persons with disabilities?

What specific guidance did they seek that made employment options successful?

What services were utilized (On the Job Training, job shadowing, assessments, accommodations, etc.)

How did they learn of your services and what processes were used to introduce and use your program?

Describe their experience with employing persons with disabilities, outcomes, concerns, and suggestions for improvement.

Excellence in Media Award 

The Excellence in Media Award is presented to an individual or organization whose media production has made a noticeable contribution towards the accurate and progressive portrayal of people with disabilities.  It is presented in recognition of outstanding effort in any medium, including print, radio, television, film, and advertising.

Criteria:

Individuals with disabilities should be portrayed in a realistic and positive manner.

The media production should appeal to the public at large rather than targeting only a specialized or professional audience.

The portrayal may exist within the context of a larger idea or subject matter, that is, not be a narrow disability-specific message.

The portrayal should be informative rather than merely promotional. 

Graduate Literary Award 

"The Graduate Literary Award is presented annually in recognition of exceptional academic achievement by rehabilitation students at the graduate level (i.e., master's and doctoral level) 

Criteria: 

Is the writer enrolled in college/university program that specializes in rehabilitation counseling, clinical rehabilitation, or a closely related field for the specific purpose of working with individuals with disabilities or preparing future professionals to work with individuals with disabilities?

In what ways does the manuscript underscore principles of empowerment, social advocacy, and cultural awareness and competence across various communities?

What makes the manuscript original?

In what ways does the writer demonstrate an outstanding submission/manuscript?

Manuscripts submitted for nomination will be assessed on quality of writing, theoretical framework, research methodology (if applicable), impact on the field, and importance of topic (topic can be on any aspect of rehabilitation). 

Manuscripts should use the American Psychological Association (APA) 6th edition format and not be previously submitted for publication. Manuscripts are to be uploaded as a Word document and submitted as part of the overall nomination packet using the electronic submission portal. 

NRA will publish the winning entry in the Journal of Rehabilitation and reserves the right for one year to publish any manuscript entered.