Bright Star Awards

Eligibility: 

The award is given to individuals making distinguished contributions toward creating more inclusive communities for people with developmental disabilities, and demonstrates personal efforts that support people with developmental disabilities and their families at the local, state, or national level. Please note: award winners from previous year(s) are ineligible. 

This person must demonstrate proficiency in at least one of the following areas:

• Leadership in advocacy 

• Public awareness and education

• Public policy/legislation

• Championing a cause 

• Deserving of recognition for merit

This person must demonstrate proficiency in at least one of the following areas:

• Excellence in leadership, advocacy, and/or education 

• Public policy/legislation

• Championing a cause 

• Mentorship

• Litigation

• Deserving of recognition for merit. 

Eligibility: 

The award is given to individuals making remarkable, evident and specific contributions in the disability community and proactively supports people with developmental disabilities and their families at the local, state, or national level. Please note: Award winners from previous year(s) are ineligible. 

To qualify for this award, a person must: 

• Worked as an education professional and in the education field for at least two (2) years.

• Have sustained involvement within the field of disabilities and a strong commitment to the mission and values of their educational organization.

The nominee must demonstrate at least one of the following:

• Excellence in leadership in education at the local, regional, state, or national level(s). 

• Outstanding achievement in the education field

• Excellence in teaching

• Excellence in curriculum development

• Excellence in research

• Champion a cause 

• Mentorship

• Excellent performance

• Ingenuity and/or innovation

Eligibility: 

The award is given to individuals making remarkable, evident and specific contributions in the disability community, and proactively supports people with developmental disabilities and their families at the local, state, or national level. Please note: Award winners from previous year(s) are ineligible.

This award is limited to persons who have worked in the field at least two (2) years and have a noteworthy and outstanding achievement in the field. 

This person must demonstrate at least one of the following:

• Excellence in public awareness and education

• Excellence in public policy/legislation

• Championing a cause 

• Litigation

• Deserving of recognition for merit.  

• Excellence in service; innovative services

• Ingenuity

Eligibility: 

The award is given to businesses/employers who have demonstrated a direct impact on the lives of people with disabilities and exhibit the strongest commitment to support the full and active participation of employing individuals with a disability within the company.

This business/employer must demonstrate at least one of the following:

• An inclusive work environment 

• Implement and maintain best practices in the workplace

• Deserving of recognition for merit  

• Excellence in service; innovative services

• Ingenuity 

Please note: Award winners from previous year(s) are ineligible.