2020 JT Award Recipient Dr. Walter Wittich

Dr. Walter Wittich, a researcher and associate professor at the School of Optometry at the University of Montreal, received the 2020 JT Award from Canadian Helen Keller Centre at our Annual General Meeting on Tuesday, October 27.

Established in 2011, the JT Award recognizes the efforts and achievements of individuals who have made a significant and lasting contribution to Canada’s deafblind community in terms of awareness, expansion and participation.

Throughout his career as a researcher, teacher and defender of human rights with disabilities, he has forged a leading role in rehabilitation and in particular with regard to dual hearing and visual impairment.

Dr Wittich has contributed to raising awareness among researchers, clinicians and policy makers alike around the experiences of people living with deafblindness, notably by proposing definitions of terms related to deafblindness and double sensory impairment, all of which have been peer-reviewed. His research and involvement have contributed to the development of programs and services throughout Quebec.

Dr. Wittich’s expertise and contributions to the Canadian deafblind community have been unparalleled.

Congratulations!