This year at the Hawaii Speech Language Hearing Convention, we had the privilege of honoring Ms. Kathy Crites-Lewis with the 2011 Mahalo Service Award. This award, given by the HSHA Foundation, recognizes individuals within a related profession who have made meaningful contributions to serving clients or students with communication disabilities. The Mahalo Service Award is an opportunity to recognize the individual for his/her contributions to our professional mission.

Kathy was collectively nominated by a group of Speech Language Pathologists and Audiologists in the Department of Education for the hard work and dedication that she provides to the staff and students within the Leeward District of Oahu. She has spent a generous amount of time in discussions and consultations when considering what type of Assistive Technology would be most appropriate for an individual. Leeward District Speech Language Pathologists often look to Kathy for guidance on the types of communication devices or strategies best for their students. As an assistive technology professional, she helps students limited by physical, cognitive, learning, sensory, and developmental disabilities. Kathy has an AAC website (http://at-p.org), and has offered presented AAC workshops to share her knowledge throughout Hawaii and American Samoa. She has also helped with developing the AAC and Assistive Technology Loan Bank for the Department of Education Leeward District. In addition to her work with the Department of Education, Kathy has also worked with other agencies including the Computer/Electronic Accommodations Program (CAPS);  University of Hawaii; Island Skill Gathering; Department of Vocational Rehabilitation ; American Samoa Department of Education  and Center for Families with Developmental Disabilities in American Samoa (CFIDD).

Kathy has truly been an asset to the professions of Speech Language Pathology and Audiology. Please join us in congratulating her for a job well done!