TASH Past Awardees

Past recipients of TASH’s awards are organized below in two ways: you can view who was recognized each year grouped by the award or you can view all honorees in a give year grouped by year.

To learn more about each award and to submit a nomination (when nominations are open), you can visit TASH’s Awards Recognition main page.

Awardees by Award

Alice H. Hayden Emerging Leader
Year Awardee
2023 Emily Malouf
2022 Michele Schutz
2021 Kristin Krupa Burnette
2020 Katie M. McCabe
2019 Samantha Gross-Toews
2018 Kathryn Burke
2017 Jennifer Bumble
2016 Elizabeth Biggs
2015 Jenny Root
2014 Samantha Goldman
2013 Matthew Brock
2012 Jody Pirtle

Barbara R. Trader Leadership
Year Awardee
2023 Robert Stack
2022 Cesilee Coulson
2021 Donald N. Cardinal
2020 Ruby Moore
2019 Shirley Rodriguez
2018 David Westling
2017 Kathy Gee
2016 Gail Fanjoy
2015 Barb Trader (inaugural awardee)

Early Career Researcher Award
Year Awardee
2023 Grace Francis
2022 Robin Dodds
2021 Virginia Walker
2020 Matthew Brock
2019 Andrea Rupper
2018 Jennifer Kurth (inaugural awardee)

June Downing Breakthroughs in Inclusive Education
Year Awardee
2023 Kate Cavanaugh
2022 Diane Ryndak
2021 Stevenson Elementary School
2020
2019 Dr. Stephanie MacFarland and Mrs. Azam Anet
2018 Lisa Yamasaki
2017 Megan Gross
2016 Creative Minds International Public Charter School and Founder, Golnar Abedin
2015 Jennifer Cooper
2014 Larry Clark, Jahlieh Henderson and Carolyn Teigland
2013
2012 Administrator – Caroline Butler, Maple Wood Elementary, Somersworth, NH
Advocate – Linda Quintanilha, Bennington, NH
School – Willard Middle School, Berkeley, CA
District – Stoughton Area School District, Stoughton, WI

Larry J. Brumond Supportive Relationship
Year Awardee
2023 Martin Moyet and Isaac Sugar
2022 Kathy Bunch and Phillip Boatner
2021 Jason Buck and Lanny Bradley
2020 Kelly McKinley and Ann Dittmeier
2019 Scott Shepard and Dan Heldoorn
2018 Paul Rule and Scott Newman
2017 Brenda Miranda and Mitchell Avrech
2016 Deborah Gates and Mary Pat Moore
2015 not awarded
2014 John Jackson and Steve Schriebner
2013 Andreas Yuan and Jason Guymon
2012 Ingrid Stone and Susan Lucia

Marc Gold Employment
Year Awardee
2023 Rebecca Salon
2022 Lisa Mills
2021 Olegario D. Cantos VII
2020 Hope Dittmeier
2019 Karen Lee
2018 Marion Curry
2017 Joy Hopkins and Jean Searle
2016 Disability Rights Oregon, Cathy Costanzo, Steve Schwartz, and the following nine plaintiffs from the class action lawsuit, Lane v. Brown: Paula Lane, Andres Paniagua, Elizabeth Harrah, Angela Kehler, Gretchen Cason, Lori Robertson, Sparkle Green, Zavier Kinville, and Ross Ryan
2015 Jennifer Briggs
2014
2013 Milton Tyree
2012 Chris Button, ODEP (inaugural awardee)

Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports
Year Awardee
2023
2022
2021
2020 Daniel Crimmins
2019
2018
2017 Virginia Walker
2016
2015 Nancy Weiss
2014 Commissioner Elin Howe
2013
2012

Positive Images in the Media
Year Awardee
2023 Diana Pastora Carson
2022 My Disability Roadmap
2021 This is Not About Me, by Marco Niemeijer
2020 Hearts of Glass, by Jennifer Tennican
2019 Zack Gottsagen, The Peanut Butter Falcon
2018 Deej and Intelligent Lives
2017 Unspoken (documentary), starring Emma Zurcher-Long
2016 Kelly’s Hollywood (documentary), by Brian Donovan
2015 Becoming Bulletproof
2014 S.C. Pinney, playwright, The Ghosts of Mariposa
Theresa Vargas, The Washington Post
2013 Just Like You – Down Syndrome, by Just Like You Films, Down Syndrome Guild of Greater Kansas City
2012 National – Pierre Tétrault Media for the film, The ‘R’ Word
Regional – Avalon Films for the video series, Possibilities

Ralph Edwards Diversity and Social Impact
Year Awardee
2023 Oanh Thi Thu Bui
2022 David Taylor
2021 Tina M. Campanella
2020 Tawara D. Goode
2019 Ginger Kwan (not present; award accepted by Open Doors for Multicultural Families delegation)
2018 Ralph Edwards (inaugural awardee)

Lifetime Achievement Award
Year Awardee
2023 Bob Williams
2022 Madeleine Will
2021 Wayne Sailor
2020 John and Connie Lyle O’Brien
2019 Frank Laski
2018 Jim Conroy
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012

Awardees by Year

2023 Baltimore, Maryland
Award Awardee
Alice H. Hayden Emerging Leader: Emily Malouf
Barbara R. Trader Leadership: Robert Stack
Early Career Researcher: Grace Francis
June Downing Breakthroughs in Inclusive Education: Kate Cavanaugh
Larry J. Brumond Supportive Relationship: Martin Moyet and Isaac Sugar
Marc Gold Employment: Rebecca Salon
Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports:
Positive Images in the Media: Diana Pastora Carson
Ralph Edwards Diversity and Social Impact: Oanh Thi Thu Bui
Lifetime Achievement Award: Bob Williams

2022 Phoenix, Arizona
Award Awardee
Alice H. Hayden Emerging Leader: Michele Schutz
Barbara R. Trader Leadership: Cesilee Coulson
Early Career Researcher: Robin Dodds
June Downing Breakthroughs in Inclusive Education: Diane Ryndak
Larry J. Brumond Supportive Relationship: Kathy Bunch and Phillip Boatner
Marc Gold Employment: Lisa Mills
Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports:
Positive Images in the Media: My Disability Roadmap
Ralph Edwards Diversity and Social Impact: David Taylor
Lifetime Achievement Award: Madeleine Will

2021 virtual
Award Awardee
Alice H. Hayden Emerging Leader: Kristin Krupa Burnette
Barbara R. Trader Leadership: Donald N. Cardinal
Early Career Researcher: Virginia Walker
June Downing Breakthroughs in Inclusive Education: Stevenson Elementary School
Larry J. Brumond Supportive Relationship: Jason Buck and Lanny Bradley
Marc Gold Employment: Olegario D. Cantos VII
Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports:
Positive Images in the Media: This is Not About Me, by Marco Niemeijer
Ralph Edwards Diversity and Social Impact: Tina M. Campanella
Lifetime Achievement Award: Wayne Sailor

2020 virtual
Award Awardee
Alice H. Hayden Emerging Leader: Katie M. McCabe
Barbara R. Trader Leadership: Ruby Moore
Early Career Researcher: Matthew Brock
June Downing Breakthroughs in Inclusive Education:
Larry J. Brumond Supportive Relationship: Kelly McKinley and Ann Dittmeier
Marc Gold Employment: Hope Dittmeier
Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports: Daniel Crimmins
Positive Images in the Media: Hearts of Glass, by Jennifer Tennican
Ralph Edwards Diversity and Social Impact: Tawara D. Goode
Lifetime Achievement Award: John and Connie Lyle O’Brien

2019 Phoenix, Arizona
Award Awardee
Alice H. Hayden Emerging Leader: Samantha Gross-Toews
Barbara R. Trader Leadership: Shirley Rodriguez
Early Career Researcher: Andrea Rupper
June Downing Breakthroughs in Inclusive Education: Dr. Stephanie MacFarland and Mrs. Azam Anet
Larry J. Brumond Supportive Relationship: Scott Shepard and Dan Heldoorn
Marc Gold Employment: Karen Lee
Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports:
Positive Images in the Media: Zack Gottsagen, The Peanut Butter Falcon
Ralph Edwards Diversity and Social Impact: Ginger Kwan (not present; award accepted by Open Doors for Multicultural Families delegation)
Lifetime Achievement Award: Frank Laski
Special Recognition Award: Chernet Weldeab

2018 Portland, Oregon
Award Awardee
Alice H. Hayden Emerging Leader: Kathryn Burke
Barbara R. Trader Leadership: David Westling
Early Career Researcher: Jennifer Kurth (inaugural awardee)
June Downing Breakthroughs in Inclusive Education: Lisa Yamasaki
Larry J. Brumond Supportive Relationship: Paul Rule and Scott Newman
Marc Gold Employment: Marion Curry
Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports:
Positive Images in the Media: Deej and Intelligent Lives
Ralph Edwards Diversity and Social Impact: Ralph Edwards (inaugural awardee)
Lifetime Achievement Award: Jim Conroy
TASH Ambassador of the Year Award: Tony Sampson

2017 Atlanta, Georgia
Award Awardee
Alice H. Hayden Emerging Leader: Jennifer Bumble
Barbara R. Trader Leadership: Kathy Gee
June Downing Breakthroughs in Inclusive Education: Megan Gross
Larry J. Brumond Supportive Relationship: Brenda Miranda and Mitchell Avrech
Marc Gold Employment: Joy Hopkins and Jean Searle
Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports: Virginia Walker
Positive Images in the Media: Unspoken, starring Emma Zurcher-Long
Lifetime Achievement Award:

2016 St. Louis, Missouri
Award Awardee
Alice H. Hayden Emerging Leader: Elizabeth Biggs
Barbara R. Trader Leadership: Gail Fanjoy
June Downing Breakthroughs in Inclusive Education: Creative Minds International Public Charter School and Founder, Golnar Abedin
Larry J. Brumond Supportive Relationship: Deborah Gates and Mary Pat Moore
Marc Gold Employment: Disability Rights Oregon, Cathy Costanzo, Steve Schwartz, and the following nine plaintiffs from the class action lawsuit, Lane v. Brown: Paula Lane, Andres Paniagua, Elizabeth Harrah, Angela Kehler, Gretchen Cason, Lori Robertson, Sparkle Green, Zavier Kinville, and Ross Ryan
Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports:
Positive Images in the Media: Kelly’s Hollywood, by Brian Donovan
Lifetime Achievement Award:

2015 Portland, Oregon
Award Awardee
Alice H. Hayden Emerging Leader: Jenny Root
Barbara R. Trader Leadership: Barb Trader (inaugural awardee)
June Downing Breakthroughs in Inclusive Education: Jennifer Cooper
Larry J. Brumond Supportive Relationship: not awarded
Marc Gold Employment: Jennifer Briggs
Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports: Nancy Weiss
Positive Images in the Media: Becoming Bulletproof
Lifetime Achievement Award:

2014 Washington, D.C.
Award Awardee
Alice H. Hayden Emerging Leader: Samantha Goldman
June Downing Breakthroughs in Inclusive Education: Larry Clark, Administrator
Carolyn Teigland, Administrator
Jahlieh Henderson, Educator
Larry J. Brumond Supportive Relationship: John Jackson and Steve Schriebner
Marc Gold Employment:
Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports: Commissioner Elin Howe
Positive Images in the Media: S.C. Pinney, playwright, The Ghosts of Mariposa
Theresa Vargas, The Washington Post
Lifetime Achievement Award:

2013 Chicago, Illinois
Award Awardee
Alice H. Hayden Emerging Leader: Matthew Brock
June Downing Breakthroughs in Inclusive Education:
Larry J. Brumond Supportive Relationship: Andreas Yuan and Jason Guymon
Marc Gold Employment: Milton Tyree
Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports:
Positive Images in the Media: Just Like You – Down Syndrome, by Just Like You Films, Down Syndrome Guild of Greater Kansas City
Lifetime Achievement Award:

2012 Long Beach, California
Award Awardee
Alice H. Hayden Emerging Leader: Jody Pirtle
June Downing Breakthroughs in Inclusive Education: Administrator – Caroline Butler, Maple Wood Elementary, Somersworth, NH
Advocate – Linda Quintanilha, Bennington, NH
School – Willard Middle School, Berkeley, CA
District – Stoughton Area School District, Stoughton, WI
Larry J. Brumond Supportive Relationship: Ingrid Stone and Susan Lucia (Kirkville, New York)
Marc Gold Employment: Chris Button, ODEP
Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports:
Positive Images in the Media: National – Pierre Tétrault Media for the film, The ‘R’ Word
Regional – Avalon Films for the video series, Possibilities
Lifetime Achievement Award: