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On Thursday, October 25, 2007, The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association co-sponsored the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Fifth Annual "Celebrating Persons with Disabilities." ASHA lifetime member Dr. Marion Downs was honored with the Secretary's Highest Recognition Award for her groundbreaking work and lifetime dedication promoting the early identification of hearing problems in children.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt welcomes honorees and guests to the Fifth Annual "Celebrating Persons with Disabilities" event.
"I would like to extend an ASHA welcome to each of today’s honorees," said ASHA President Noma Anderson. "We are so honored and pleased to be the co-sponsoring organization of 'Celebrating Persons With Disabilities' and the host organization of this reception for all of today's honorees."
2007 ASHA President Noma Anderson presents Dr. Marion Downs with the Secretary's Highest Recognition Award as U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Disability Director Dr. Margaret J. Giannini looks on.
"We were right to start screening hearing at birth," Downs said, recalling the primitive measures used when EHDI started in the 1960s. Screening for hearing at birth has coincidentally increased knowledge about other important health issues for babies, such as sudden infant death syndrome, unilateral hearing loss, and audio neuropathy, she said.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Disability Director Dr. Margaret J. Giannini congratulates Dr. Downs.
ASHA Executive Director Arlene Pietranton, Dr. Marion Downs, and 2007 ASHA President Noma Anderson enjoy a reception at HHS for Dr. Downs and all of the other honorees which was hosted by ASHA.
Invited audiology guests celebrate Dr. Downs' award including: R. Steve Ackley (far left); Vic Gladstone, ASHA's Chief Staff Officer for Audiology (second from the left); Christie Yoshinaga-Itano (front center); Dr. Marion Downs; ASHA President Noma Anderson; Anne Oyler, ASHA's Associate Director, Audiology Professional Practices (back left); Mary Saylor (back, second from the left), Bob Oyler (back center); Loretta Nunez, ASHA's Director of Academic Affairs (back, second from right); and Sharon Beamer, Associate Director, Audiology Professional Practices (back right).
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