SOUTHFIELD ? Stevie Wonder will receive a special Founder?s Award at the fifth annual Dinner with da Vinci October 21 at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Dearborn. The musical artist will be recognized for developing the first descriptive music video, So What the Fuss.
The awards recognize the most innovative developments and research in adaptive and assistive technology that embrace the Universal Design Principle. Each year, nominations are sought worldwide and subsequently judged. The winners and their achievements are recognized at the annual, prestigious event. Additional winners recently were announced for Lifetime Achievement and Spirit of da Vinci awards.
Wonder is being honored, not only for his groundbreaking achievement of the descriptive video, but also for his personal dedication to advancing accessibility for all. The clip is the first music video ever to be enhanced with a descriptive track to make it accessible to people who are blind or have low vision.
Dinner with da Vinci is coordinated by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Michigan Chapter, with support from the corporate and business communities.
This year?s winning da Vinci Awards entries are:
Nerve Transfers for Improved Artificial Limb Function
Neural Engineering Center for Artificial Limbs
Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago;
CoreControl
AVAcore Technologies, Ann Arbor;
Hardy Elementary School
Office of Special Education
South Lyon Community Schools;
Developer & Solution Partner Program
Hewlett-Packard, Palo Alto, California;
Versluis Park
Parks & Recreation Department
Plainfield Charter Township, Michigan;
FreedomBox
Serotek Corporation, Minneapolis, Minnesota;
The Spirit of da Vinci and for the da Vinci Lifetime Achievement recipients were announced previously. The winner of the Spirit of da Vinci is singer, songwriter, performer and advocate for individuals with disabilities, Snoopi Botten, who has cerebral palsy. The Lifetime Achievement Award goes to Dudley S. Childress, PhD., Director of the Northwestern University Prosthetics Research Laboratory.
Proceeds from the October 21 awards dinner benefit the efforts of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Michigan Chapter to ensure an accessible environment for all individuals with disabilities through education, services, research and the continued support of the organization?s mission.
Ford Motor Company is the Presenting Sponsor for Dinner with da Vinci. DaimlerChrysler is the Platinum Sponsor. Diamond Sponsors are, Microsoft, FORTUNE and Trilogy. Emerald Sponsors are Denso International America and General Motors Corporation. Sapphire Sponsors are The Diez Group, Doner, JWT and ProQuest. The Chairman of the Dinner?s Leadership Committee is Anne Stevens, group vice president, Canada, Mexico and South America, Ford Motor Company.
An exhibit of the winning awards will be on display at the New Detroit Science Center from Oct. 22 – Oct. 28.
For information on Dinner with da Vinci, click on DaVinciAwards.Com
