Mel Hebb Awards

PAANS would like you to help us recognize people in your community who have made a contribution to the inclusion of persons with disabilities in our province by submitting your nominations for the Mel Hebb Hour Glass Action Awards. The Hourglass Action Awards were launched in 1992 during National Access Awareness Week. That year, an hourglass symbolized the spirit of timely action the awards recognize.

In 2000, the name of the Award was changed to the Mel Hebb Hourglass Action Awards in honour of Mr. Melbourne Hebb, a former awards committee chair. Hebb, who passed away in October 1999, was the personification of dedicated action.
 

2010 Mel Hebb Hourglass Action Award Winners

MEL HEBB HOURGLASS ACTION AWARD 2010

Exceptional Service

Dr. Richard Braha

Dr Richard Braha possesses a desire to make things better for brain injury survivors and their families. This comes across in both words and actions. He has the gift of being able to relate to his patients with empathy, sympathy, and a focus on the positive rather than the negative.

It is this driving philosophy that makes him a credible and respected champion for the expansion and provision of services, programs and supports for brain injury survivors and their families.

With the support of various personnel within Capital Health, Dr Braha has been able to expand the programs and services with the introduction of an Outreach team in January 2010 and a Day Program Team in April 2010.

The Outreach Team is based in the community and provides services to individual (stroke and traumatic brain injury) who require rehabilitative therapy in order to remain in the community. The Day Program Team is implementing its first run of a day program which is primarily group-based supplemented with individual sessions.

Dr Braha’s “how can” attitude combined with his integrity, professionalism, passion and the message and manner in which he advocates for the survivors and families has him held in the highest esteem with everyone involved (past and present) in the Brain Injury Association of Nova Scotia.

MEL HEBB HOURGLASS ACTION AWARD 2009

Encore

Holly Bartlett

Holly Bartlett was nominated posthumously for this award in recognition of her extraordinary contribution to the disability community. Holly died March 28, 2010 as a result of injuries sustained in a fall near her home.

She raised awareness of disability issues-sometimes by speaking out clearly on an issue, but more often without words by showing how she and other persons with disabilities could face and overcome challenges in education and at work and leisure. Ironically, Holly's death raised awareness of disability issues among the general public more effectively than many a news conference, protest or celebration. Stories in The Chronicle Herald and Maclean 's magazine and on radio reached many readers and listeners, and the video Sights Unseen, which has received over 12,000 hits on Y YouTube, has affected members of the public who learned about Holly's many achievements.

Holly gave leadership to the disability community, seeking opportunities to serve. She was a member of the committee for students with disabilities at St. F. x., served on the executive of the National Educational Association of Disabled Students, served for two years on the board of ILNS, and had just become the NS representative to the board of Independent Living Canada. Holly showed the potential of becoming a major community leader.

Holly broke stereotypes with joyful abandon. She demonstrated that persons with disabilities can do the unexpected. Dancing? Rock climbing? Horseback riding? Sky diving? "Why not?" was Holly's response. She showed the able-bodied public that she could do things other young Canadians want to do-sometimes in a unique way but always with stellar results.

MEL HEBB HOURGLASS ACTION AWARD 2009

Andre McConnell

Anthony H. (Tony) Jackson

Tony has been working with Human Resources Skills Development Canada/Service Canada since 1977.

Throughout his 33 year career, he has held positions which include Employment Counsellor, Programs Officer, On Campus Counsellor, Team Leader and Branch Manager in Halifax North. Since June 2000, Tony has worked as a Regional Programs Consultant at the Service Canada, Nova Scotia Regional Headquarters in Dartmouth. His responsibilities include partnerships, persons with disabilities, Opportunities Fund Program, Work Sharing Program, Targeted Wage Subsidies and Job Creation Partnerships. In June 2007, Tony received the National Federal Public Service Award of Excellence for his commitment and work with the Persons with Disabilities Collaborative Partnership Committees and his commitment to people with disabilities in Nova Scotia that supported their success to secure employment opportunities.

MEL HEBB HOURGLASS ACTION AWARD 2009

Andre McConnell

Don Glover

Don Glover, currently the acting director of the Student Services Division, NS Department of Education, has demonstrated unwavering and career-long dedication to meeting the educational needs of children and youth with disabilities. In particular, he has shown a commitment to the need of youth with disabilities to make an effective transition from school to community.

In Don's extensive resume, the words "transition" and "partnership" appear frequently. As a new teacher at Shelburne Regional High School in the 1970s, Don introduced a life skills program for students with disabilities. In his various positions with Shelburne County District and the Southwest Regional school boards, Don set up ·partnerships with community organizations to focus on the transition of youth from school to community. As consultant for Special Education with the Department of Education, he worked with families, school boards and community organizations to establish the first post-secondary transition programs in Nova Scotia for young adults with disabilities, seeking to fill that gap for youth who have finished high school but aren't ready for work or further education.

Don struggled through policy mazes and over funding hurdles until he found ways to make these needed programs available. Despite his demanding workload, Don finds time to attend regular advisory committee meetings for the Access to Community Education and Employment (ACEE) program, readily sharing his experience around the table with staff, partner representatives, parents and participants themselves

Mel Hebb Action Award Nomination form - 2010

Mel Hebb Hourglass Action Award 2009 Winners