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<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Winnetka, IL - Dawn Turco, senior vice
president of Educational Operations for The Hadley School for the Blind, is the
winner of the 2009 Excellence in<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Rehabilitation Award from the Illinois
Chapter of the Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and
Visually Impaired (AER). The award<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>is given annually for outstanding work and
dedication to promote, develop and improve the lives of individuals who are
blind or visually impaired. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>George Abbott, Hadley%u2019s VP of
Development, Dawn Turco, husband Tony Ayers and sister-in-law, Cindy Ayers. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Turco, who has been with Hadley for 15 years,
oversees the school's strategic initiatives, accreditation process and program
development, including the<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>design and delivery of approximately 100
distance education courses. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>"This is the first award of this type I
have received during my career," says Turco. "Having served on the
AER Nominating Committee in the past, I know<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>how challenging a decision this is because
the quality of candidates is tremendous. I was especially touched by all the
letters of support from those who<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>nominated me. It reminds me why I undertook
this work in the first place 30 years ago." <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Born with a congenital retinal condition that
resulted in low vision, Turco's own disability was the impetus for her going
into the rehabilitation field.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>"Not only was I disabled, but our
neighbors had a child with developmental disabilities while I was growing up,
and the mother was a teacher of children<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>who were blind and deaf," says Turco.
"I spent a lot of time watching her and learning about her career. By the
age of 10, I knew what I wanted to do with<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>my life." <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Turco began her career in 1977 at the
Missouri School for the Blind as a teacher working with students who are
visually impaired and have multiple disabilities.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>After receiving her Certificate of Advanced
Educational Specialization in Education Supervision and Administration from
Boston College, she returned to<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>the school as its principal for seven years
and also served as interim superintendent. Turco then became the American
Foundation for the Blind's Midwest<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Regional Educational Consultant. Based in
Chicago, she held the position until joining Hadley in 1993. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Turco has been a member of AER since 1984.
She was instrumental in forming the organization's Missouri Chapter, served as
its president from 1984-1986<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>and co-chaired the North Central Regional
Conference in St. Louis in 1987. Turco also has been very active in the
Illinois School for the Visually Impaired,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>where she served on the advisory board, and
the Illinois Vision Leadership Council, of which she was a member for many
years. She is an officer for the<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Discovery Low Vision Conference, responsible
for program planning, and has played a key role in the creation of the Families
Connecting with Families Conference.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Turco earned her B.S. in Special Education
from Syracuse University and her M.A. in Special Education from Columbia
University. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Looking back on her education and career, she
notes that there is still a misperception about low vision: people don't
understand the condition and are<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>often confused when she asks for help in
reading a menu board or comments that subtitles are moving too fast across the
movie screen. "They can grasp what<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>it means to be blind, but the low vision
thing throws them," adds Turco, who has magnifiers all over her house and
keeps one in her purse at all times.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>(She uses a monocular telescope for theater,
concerts and other large events.) <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Poking fun at herself, Turco, who is also
color blind, shares a story about some of the challenges she has faced with low
vision. "In the 70s, we had a<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Chihuahua named Taco that blended in with our
avocado green shag rug. My younger brother has low vision too, and so we used
to accidentally step on him.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Boy, did he learn to move quick!" Today,
Turco and her husband have a high-contrast, two-toned Cavalier King Charles
Spaniel. "Now I don't have to worry<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>about making the same mistake again!" <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>As her work at Hadley continues to evolve,
Turco loves the fact that she is never bored. Impressed by the changes the
school has undergone over the years<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>to meet its mission of providing lifelong
distance education to its students, she is very proud of the impact she has had
during her tenure. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>"It's really quite amazing to see
Hadley's transformation and the incredible changes that have taken place in the
field. New technology, in particular,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>has not only revolutionized the way we
deliver programs and courses, but it has helped level the playing field for
those with disabilities." <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>She adds that the development of access
technologies such as screen readers and new mobile text-to-speech devices has
completely changed the way we communicate<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>with those who are blind or visually
impaired. "Today, there is much more immediate access to information,
education and career opportunities. That's a<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>very good thing, especially since there is
still a lot more work to be done." <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>The Hadley School for the Blind is the single
largest worldwide distance educator of blind and visually impaired people.
Since its founding by William<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Hadley and Dr. E.V.L. Brown in 1920, all of
Hadley's distance education courses have been provided free of charge to blind
and visually impaired students<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>and their families. Today, the school serves
more than 10,000 students annually in all 50 states and 110 countries. In
January 2008, Hadley launched a<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>School for Professional Studies to meet the
needs of professionals and paraprofessionals actively working with the blind
and visually impaired. Hadley<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>relies on contributions from individuals,
foundations and corporations to fund its programs. For more information, visit:
www.hadley.edu <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Author Information<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Josie Whetstone<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>The Hadley School for the Blind<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010 <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif";
color:#00B050'>_______________________________________________________<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Denny Huff - President<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Missouri Council of the Blind<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>5453 Chippewa<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>St. Louis, MO 63109<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Phone: (636) 262-1383<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Toll Free: (888) 362-1383<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Phonecast: (816) 298-8969<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>FAX: (636) 629-1710<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>DHuff@MoBlind.Org<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>www.moblind.org<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>MCB - A GREAT PLACE TO BE!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>The purpose of Missouri Council of the Blind shall be to
promote the general well-being of our members and legally blind people in
Missouri, and to support or participate in other programs promoting the best
interests of legally blind people everywhere.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
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