On August 6, 2025, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the Association of Vision Rehabilitation Therapists (AVRT) honored NRTC Older Blind Specialist Jennifer Ottowitz with the Lenore Dillon Leadership Award. This award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership in the vision rehabilitation therapy (VRT) field.
Jennifer was nominated by Dr. John McMahon, a long-time vision rehabilitation therapist and member of the NRTC’s Advisory Council, for the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) RRTC grant. He was also present in the room when Jennifer was presented with the award.
This leadership award was named after Lenore Dillon, a respected figure in the VRT field who dedicated her career to guiding and inspiring VRT professionals. Known for her unwavering passion and commitment, Lenore left a lasting influence on the field, and her example continues to motivate today’s leaders in rehabilitation therapy.
Jennifer reflected on the recognition and shared that she felt honored to receive the award. “I strive to always do my best work, always continue to learn, to get involved, and to nurture growth in others, because that helps nurture my own growth,” she says. “If this has an impact in any small way, I’m deeply grateful.”
Throughout her career at NRTC, Jennifer has advanced the mission of improving employment and independent living outcomes for people who are blind or have low vision. She has led projects to enhance training for rehabilitation professionals, collaborated with partners nationwide to strengthen services, and developed resources to support the VRT profession.
The NRTC is proud to celebrate Jennifer’s achievements and the impact she continues to make within the field. Congratulations, Jennifer!
The NRTC focuses on employment outcomes of people with blindness or low vision (B/LV), providing training, technical assistance, and resources for professionals and people with B/LV interested in employment through funding from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research grant #90RTEM0007. To learn more, visit our About page and the NTAC-BLV website.