FBC is excited to share that our very own Melanie Audet was selected as the winner of the Outstanding Educator Award by the City of Phoenix Mayor’s Commission on Disability Issues. Melanie will be presented with the award at the 2023 Disabilities Awards and Recognition Event, which will take place on October 27, at Burton Barr Central Library, from 4:00-6:00 PM.
Melanie has taught visually impaired students of all ages at FBC. She has served as an orientation and mobility instructor, an itinerant teacher of the visually impaired, and has worked in FBC’s adult services. Now, Melanie manages the transition services at FBC, which help prepare teens and young adults to go to college and go to work. She also teaches a class at Arizona State University for aspiring teachers of the visually impaired.
“Working with students who are visually impaired and helping them get jobs or move on to their next steps in the world is really important to me,” said Melanie, “and accepting this award means that I can share more with others about what Foundation for Blind Children does, and how our programs can impact more students. I had no idea that I was nominated, and it was so special to me that [FBC VP of Programs Julie Oliver] had been the one to nominate me.
Mayor’s Commission on Disability Issues
Recognizing ability, advocacy, accessibility, and achievement since 1993, the Mayor’s Commission on Disability Issues and the City of Phoenix are proud sponsors of the Disability Awards and Recognition Event. The event honors individuals, organizations, and business for their dedication and service to the disabled community.
About FBC
the Foundation for Blind Children provides Education, tools, and services to create opportunity for anyone with vision loss to achieve greater independence. FBC serves the blind and visually impaired of all ages, from birth to currently 104 years old. With three Valley locations (East, West and Central Phoenix), we strive to be “the” community resource for blind, visually impaired, and multiply disabled children, adults, and their families. We believe that vision loss is a diagnosis, not a barrier.
