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Our Mission
Empowering members to serve individuals with hearing, communication and related disorders and needs through best practices, professional development and advocacy.

The speech-language and hearing professions seem to have more than its share of people willing to give a little extra or do a little more. Is there someone whom you admire? Someone who has achieved notable successes or embodies the values of our profession? If so, now is the time to act. The Committee for Honors and Awards is accepting nominations for the distinctions listed below. Review them, complete a nomination form, and send it in by February 19. Imagine how much one of these awards would mean to your colleague!

Honors of the Association

The highest award of the Association is given to members of the Association who have distinguished themselves as leaders of the professions of Speech-Language Pathology and/or Audiology and/or in the discipline of Communication Sciences and Disorders on a broad and continuing basis. Individuals who have provided outstanding service to the Association and to the professions, contributed to the advancement of knowledge, and have demonstrated leadership in furthering standards of excellence within the professions and the discipline are potential candidates for this award.

Distinguished Achievement Award

Awarded to members of the Association who have distinguished themselves in the discipline of Communication Sciences and Disorders and/or the professions of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology by virtue of their outstanding academic, research and/or clinical contributions, not necessarily within the framework of the Association nor on a continuing basis. Potential nominees are individuals who have reached a level of achievement as to be judged distinguished among their peers.

Distinguished Clinician Award

Awarded to a member of the Association who has demonstrated outstanding innovative clinical care to communicatively impaired individuals on a continuing basis. Nominees may include individuals in any employment setting, but those whose primary responsibilities are clinical service.

Distinguished Service Award

Awarded to members of the Association who have contributed outstanding service to the Association on a broad and continuing basis. Criteria to be considered for this award go beyond the expected level of responsibilities and functions associated with elected office or membership on Association committees. Nominees for this award should exemplify long-term commitment to high standards of service to the Association in a variety of roles.

Distinguished Clinical Service Program Award

Awarded to clinical service programs that have contributed significantly and substantially to the clinical care of communicatively impaired individuals on a continuing basis. Criteria for this award may include, but are not limited to, quality of service delivery, innovative programming of services, outreach to the community, provision of a research ethic within clinical service, application of modern technology to service delivery, and integration of new research findings into clinical care.

Special Citation

Awarded to members or non-members of the Association who have provided unique and special services on behalf of the Association and/or the professions of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology.

To submit a nomination, complete the Honors and Awards Form Below

Each nominee must be sponsored by one NYSSLHA member in good standing. Additional sponsors are welcome, but each one must be a NYSSLHA member.

Include a statement of 500 words or less, describing the outstanding contributions of the nominee that correspond with the criteria of the award chosen. The statement and documentation must clearly provide evidence that the nominee has demonstrated performance and accomplishments beyond expected responsibilities and functions. Unique contributions that fit the criteria of the award should be highlighted to support that distinction.

Past Recipients

Honors of the Association

2022 – Regina B. Grantham
2022 – Robert E. Owens
2022 – Wendy Papir Bernstein
2020 – Kim Tillery
2019 – Sal Gruttadauria
2019 – Yula Separnos
2018 – Jack Pickering
2017 – Harriet Kliein
2016 – Lawrence J. Raphael

Distinguished Achievement Award

2023 – Deborah Insalaco
2022 – Sylvia Yudice Walters
2021 – Christina Reuterskiold
2021 – Linda Carozza
2020 – Helen Buhler
2018 – Mark Orlando
2017 – Luis Riquelme
2016 – Barbara E. Weinstein

Distinguished Clinician Award

2023 – Kara A.Nunn
2019 – Ramani Voleti
2017 – Denise Senick-Pirri

Distinguished Service Award

2023 – Tina N. Caswell
2018 – Juli LaMoy
2016 – Jane Coyle

Distinguished Clinical Service Program Award

2021 – Diversified Services
2020 – Lehman College Speech and Hearing Center
2019 – The Traumatic Brain Injury Waiver Program, College of St. Rose
2016 – The Rehabilitation Services Department of the Visiting Nurses of Westchester

Special Citation

2023 – Helena Ruth Namicoa Hawkshawe
2018 – Reid, McNally & Savage, LLC
2017 – Maureen Plain
2016 – Kathy Febraio