Award Recipients


Each year, the International Dyslexia Association (IDA) acknowledges the achievements of leading researchers and practitioners in the dyslexia field, as well as those of individuals with dyslexia who exhibit leadership and serve as role models in their communities. Read below for descriptions of each award and lists of award recipients. These award recipients have done so much to advance the mission of helping all those who struggle to read. 

Samuel Torrey Orton Award

Margaret Byrd Rawson Lifetime Achievement Award

Norman Geschwind Memorial Lecture         

Early Career Award for Contributions to Research

Excellence in Leadership Award  

Remy Johnston Certificate of Merit

Pinnacle Award


Samuel Torrey Orton Award 

The Samuel Torrey Orton Award is the International Dyslexia Association’s highest honor. The Award recognizes a person or persons who have:

  • Made a vital contribution to our scientific understanding of dyslexia, or
  • Significantly enhanced and advanced our capacity to successfully intervene and assist people with dyslexia, or
  • Expanded national and international awareness of dyslexia, or
  • Demonstrated unusual competence and dedication in service to people with dyslexia

Recipients:

2023    Nancy Mather

2022    Fumiko Hoeft

2021    John Gabrielli

2020… R. Malatesha Joshi

2019… Mark S. Seidenberg

2018… Richard Wagner

2017… Maureen Lovett

2016… Albert Galaburda

2015… Virginia W. Berninger

2014… Kate Cain

2013… Louisa Moats

2012… Sally & Bennett Shaywitz

2011… Maryanne Wolf

2010… Marilyn Jager Adams

2009… Susan Brady & Hollis Scarborough

2008… Hugh W. Catts

2007… Uta Frith

2006… Joseph Torgesen

2005… Margaret Snowling

2004… Martha Bridge Denckla

2003… Jack M. Fletcher

2002… Bruce F. Pennington

2001… Gordon F. Sherman & Disability Rights Advocates

2000… G. Reid Lyon

1999… Howard G. Gardner

1998… Priscilla L. Vail

1997… C. Wilson Anderson, Jr.

1996… Jeanne S. Chall

1995… Jeanette Jansky

1994… Rosa Hagin

1993… Lucia R. Karnes

1992… Sylvia O. Richardson

1991… Dorothy B. Whitehead & Carolyn and Carl Kline

1990… Diana H. King

1999… Howard G. Gardner

1998… Priscilla L. Vail

1997… C. Wilson Anderson, Jr.

1996… Jeanne S. Chall

1995… Jeanette Jansky

1994… Rosa Hagin

1993… Lucia R. Karnes

1992… Sylvia O. Richardson

1991… Dorothy B. Whitehead & Carolyn and Carl Kline

1990… Diana H. King

1989… Regina Cicci

1988… William Ellis & Isabelle Liberman

1987… Lucius Waites & Alice Gardside

1986… Che Kan Leong & John Bigelow

1985… Alice Koontz & Norman Geschwind-(posthumously)

1984… Robert G. Hall

1983… Eleanor T. Hall

1982… Drake D. Duane

1981… Arthur Benton

1980… Helene Durbrow & Leon Eisenberg

1979… J. Roswell Gallagher

1978… Paula D. Rome

1977… Aylett R. Cox

1976… Roger E. Saunders

1975… Richard Masland

1974… Macdonald Critchley

1973… Sally Child

1972… Beth Slingerland

1971… Margaret Byrd Rawson

1970… Lloyd J. Thompson

1969… June Lyday Orton

1968… Katrina deHirsh

1967… Edwin Cole

1966… Lauretta Bende

 


Margaret Byrd Rawson Lifetime Achievement Award

The Margaret Byrd Rawson Award recognizes the work of an individual to advance the mission of the International Dyslexia Association (IDA).   The Award shall be given to a member of IDA whose work on behalf of IDA embodies Margaret Rawson’s:

  • Compassion,
  • Leadership,
  • Commitment to excellence,
  • Fervent advocacy for people with dyslexia,
  • And whose work is nationally recognized as furthering the mission of IDA

Recipients:

2023…Martha Hougen

2022…Barbara Wilson

2021…Pamela Hook

2020… Linda Siegel

2019… Elsa Cárdenas-Hagan

2018… Suzanne Carreker

2017… Eric Tridas

2016… Lenox Reed

2015… Karen E. Dakin

2014… Charles W. Haynes

2013… Diana Hanbury King

2012… G. Emerson & Georgette Dickman

2011… Nancy Hennessy

 

2010… Joyce Pickering

2009… Arlene W. Sonday

2008… Judith R. Birsh

2007… Nancy Cushen White

2006… C. K. Leong

2005… Betty S. Levinson

2004… Roger E. Saunders

2003… Martha W. Renner

2002… Jean S. Osman

2001… Betty Sheffield

2000… Marcia K. Henry

1999… Sylvia O. Richardson

1998… Margaret Byrd Rawson

 


The Norman Geschwind Memorial Lecture

When Norman Geschwind died of cardiac arrest on November 4, 1984, the Orton Society, (now the International Dyslexia Association; IDA), lost a member of its Board of Directors, a speaker of great note, the scientific mind behind the society’s Neuroanatomy Study, and a dear friend. Dr. Geschwind was Chief of Neurology at Beth Israel Hospital and was James Jackson Putnam Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School. He also held professorships at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Psychology and the School of Health Sciences and Technology. His interest in the work of the Orton Society stemmed from his research on the relationship between brain anatomy and behavior. To honor Dr. Geschwind’s memory, in 1985 the Orton Society established a Norman Geschwind Memorial Lecture Fund that is used to provide a speaker at the IDA Annual Conference. The speaker is to represent the broad nature of Dr. Geschwind’s interests in dyslexia and related disabilities and abilities. The legacy of his curiosity lives on. (Perspectives on Dyslexia, Winter 1985)

Lecturers:

2023…Marcia Barnes 

2022…Jack Fletcher 

2021…Juile Washington 

2020… Nadine Gaab

2019… Sharon Vaughn

2018… Simon Fisher

2017… Stanislas Dehaene

2016… Guinevere Eden

2015… John Gabrieli

2014… Fumiko Hoeft

2013… Laurie E. Cutting

2012… Donald Shankweiler

2011… Kenneth R. Pugh

2010… Kurt Fischer

2009… Charles Perfetti

2008… Daniel H. Geschwind

2007… Ursula Bellugi

2006… Doris Johnson

2005… Richard K. Olson

 

 

2004… Albert M. Galaburda

2003… Patricia K. Kuhl

2002… Ingvar Lundberg

2001… Drake D. Duane

2000… Frank B. Wood

1999… G. Reid Lyon

1998… Maryanne Wolf

1997… George W. Hynd

1996… Bruce F. Pennington

1995… Gordon F. Sherman

1994… Peter T. Fox

1993… Marcus E. Raichle

1992… Margaret S. Livingston

1991… George A. Ojemann

1990… Eran Zaidel

1989… Albert  M. Galaburda

1988… Jerome Y. Lettvin

1987… Antonio R. Damasio

1986… Martha Bridge Denckla

1985… Peter Behan

 


Early Career Award for Contributions to Research

This award is given to an early-career researcher and conference speaker whose innovative research has had a positive impact on the lives of individuals with dyslexia.

Recipients:

2020… Mercedes Spencer

2019… Ola Ozernov-Palchik

2018… Peng Peng

2017… Sunjung Kim

2016… Luz Rello


Excellence in Leadership Award

IDA created this Award in 2013 to honor an individual who, through their profession, tirelessly aims to improve the lives of those with dyslexia. This Award is given in recognition of excellence in service to individuals with dyslexia, their families, and the greater community. The Award is presented at IDA’s Annual Reading, Literacy and Learning Conference each fall.  

Recipients:

2020… Lee Siang

2019… Carrie Thomas Beck

2018… Sir Richard Branson

2017… Martin McKay

2016… Rick Fiery & Tom Bergeron (co-recipients)

2015… Tincy Miller

2014… Gavin Newsom

2013… Alice Thomas 


Remy Johnston Certificate of Merit

This recognition program was established to honor the memory of Remy Johnston, a student with dyslexia whose promising life was tragically cut short in February 1989, a few months prior to graduating from Wooster College.

 Remy Johnston was a special person to his family and friends and to the staff and members of The Orton Dyslexia Society (now IDA). His mother, Joyce Johnston was the first person hired here and she retired in 2000 after 29 years of dedicated service. Read Remy Johnston’s paper about dyslexia and how it affected his life. 

The Remy Johnston Certificate of Merit recognizes students with dyslexia who:

  • Are worthy role models
  • Refuse to use their learning difference as an excuse
  • Strive for excellence
  • Enrich their community

Recipients:

2019… Mika Bardin

2018… Ainsley Proctor

2017… Olivia Amante

2016… Aidan Colvin

2015… Will Marsh

2014… Tyler Lentz

2013… Thomas Hircock

2012… Selene Jones

2011… Alex Malchow

2010… Jessica Dupiche

2009… Jennifer Smith & Jessica Byington

2008… Michael Guggenheim

2007… Anthony Levenson

2006… Dean Abbey

2001… Julia Bowsher, Michelle Carroll, Jeffrey R. Drake, Jeffrey Gurwin, Caroline (Carly) Russell  


Pinnacle Award

The Pinnacle Award was created to recognize an individual who has faced reading challenges, has made significant achievements in his or her field, is leading a successful life, and is a role model for others with learning differences. The Award is given annually; more than one person may receive this recognition in any given year; and the honoree does not have to be a member of the Association. The award is presented at IDA’s Annual Reading, Literacy and Learning Conference each fall.

Recipients:

2019… John Hoke

2018… Jared Blank

2017… Malcolm Mitchell

2016… Patrick Whaley

2015… Scoot McNairy

2014… Cameron Herold

2013… Blake Charlton

2012… Phillip Shultz

2011… Steve Walker

2010… Danny Aiello, III

2009… Colin Poole

2008… Stephen J. Cannell

2007… Hunt Lowry

2006… The Honorable Kendrick B. Meek

2005… David Boies

2004… Barbara Corcoran

2003… Bruce Jenner

2002… P. Buckley Moss


 


The IDA Branch Excellence Award

The IDA Branch Excellence Awards were established to recognize branches that have made exceptional contributions and outstanding achievements in promoting IDA’s mission and vision in their local area.

Award recipients are selected by a committee that includes Home Office staff, the branch council chair, regional representatives, and other IDA volunteers.

These awards are given during the annual IDA conference. 

Recipients:

2019… Arizona, Georgia, New Jersey, Oregon