American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults
Future Reflections Convention Issue 2023 AWARDS
2023 Blind Educator Award
by Tomás Cintrón
Introduction by Robin House: It is my privilege and my honor to present the 2023 Blind Educator of the Year Award. To help me during this presentation, we have a Spanish interpreter, who will be interpreting both the recipient's comments and my comments as well.
I also want to share that the Blind Educator of the Year Committee gets together and makes this important decision, and I want to thank them for their work. The members of the committee this year include Vernon, Cayte, Melissa, and Adelmo.
I want to provide a bit of history about the Blind Educator of the Year Award. This award has been presented for over thirty years now, and it began with the National Organization of Blind Educators.
We don't present this award every year. It's given only in years where a suitable candidate has been nominated and the committee agrees on the recipient. It's my pleasure and privilege to be able to announce the 2023 Blind Educator of the Year.
Let me tell you some information about him. He holds a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in special education from the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico in San Germán. He holds certification in visual impairment from the Central University of Bamono. He teaches Braille, orientation and mobility, and blindness skills to students. Additionally, he works with children K-12 in the special education program and mainstream education. He provides Braille instruction to parents and caregivers at the Lola Rodriguez School. His philosophy of blindness is in line with the National Federation of the Blind. He has been involved in the organization for many years and has been instrumental in building and rebuilding the Puerto Rican affiliate.
In terms of the educator that he is, he believes in his students' strengths, abilities, and capabilities.
Fun fact: he is also a mechanic, he's involved with the Boy Scouts, and he has two sons. The 2023 Blind Educator of the Year is Tomás Cintrón.
Congratulations, Tomás. We have a plaque in both Braille and print, and I will read the inscription in a moment. And to go along with the plaque, we have a check for $1,000.
Here we go. "Blind Educator of the Year, National Federation of the Blind, is presented to Tomás Cintrón in recognition of outstanding accomplishments in the teaching profession. You enhance the present. You inspire your colleagues. You build the future. July 3, 2023."
Tomás Cintrón: Good morning. In 1992 when I became blind, I thought my life was over. But, I met the National Federation of the Blind Puerto Rico affiliate. And my life changed. In 1993, I came to my first convention here in Texas. So now in 2023, it's my thirty-year anniversary of being initiated to the philosophy and living it throughout those thirty years.
When I decided to become a teacher, it's because I wanted my students, my blind students, to have the opportunities I did not have when I was growing up in school. When I decided to become a teacher, it wasn't only to be a good teacher but to give my students the security, opportunity, and equality that we practice in the Federation. I am not only proud to be a part of this big NFB family, but also to contribute to the Puerto Rico affiliate by being its current vice president. Thank you.