For her instrumental role in achieving the national program for newborn hearing screening
The United States Department of Health and Human Services' Office on Disability will honor Professor Emerita Dr. Marion Downs with their Secretary's Highest Recognition Award for her outstanding contributions to the deaf and hard-of-hearing community. The award will be presented at the annual event, "Celebrating Persons with Disabilities," in Washington D.C. on Thursday October 25th, 2007. Dr. Downs is receiving this award in recognition of her instrumental role in achieving national newborn hearing screening and advancing the cause of President Bush's New Freedom Initiative encouraging productively engaged lives for persons with disabilities.
The American Academy of Audiology and American Academy of Audiology Foundation have planned a special dinner celebration in Dr. Downs' honor following the Award event. Dr. Downs will be joined by family, friends and colleagues who will recognize her lifetime achievements and celebrate her many professional accomplishments. Oticon, Inc. has graciously provided financial funding for this special party in honor of Dr. Downs.
Dr. Marion Downs, a life emerita member of the American Academy of Audiology, is a world-renowned audiologist who, for more than fifty years has advocated for the importance of identifying newborn infants with hearing loss and offering treatment during the crucial period of brain development. Her commitment led to a now international and ever-expanding movement to screen newborns for deafness and hard-of-hearing concerns worldwide. Dr. Downs' recognition of the importance of hearing and communication "from cradle to grave" has led to technological advances in identifying and treating individuals of all ages with ear or hearing problems.
