David Ekin of St. Louis Society for the Blind & Visually Impaired Given Marcus Velazquez Service Award from the St. Louis Deaf Blind Task Force

NOVEMBER 2, 2011, St. Louis, Missouri…David Ekin, ACSW, LCSW, President of the Society for the Blind & Visually Impaired, has been honored with the 2011 “Marcus Velazquez Service Award” by the St. Louis Deafblind Task Force for his efforts to improve quality of life for people who are deaf-blind.

Mr. Ekin said, “I am very proud and thankful to receive the Marcus Velazquez Service Award, which I accept on behalf of staff and clients of St. Louis Society for the Blind & Visually Impaired. Receiving this meaningful award is an inspiration for us because it honors the Society’s mission and service commitment.”

The St. Louis Deafblind Task Force is part of the Missouri Deafblind Technical Assistance Project. It works to develop partnerships, coordinate service networking and to provide training for individuals with vision and hearing impairment, their families and service providers.

Founded in 1911 and now celebrating its Centennial, the Society for the Blind & Visually Impaired enhances independence, empowers individuals and enriches the lives of people who are blind or visually impaired including children, adults, deaf-blind persons and their families. Its caring, qualified staff provides specialized vision rehabilitation, adaptive education, assistive technology and support services.

The not-for-profit Society serves an increasing number of older adults who are newly visually impaired, blind or deaf-blind due to age-related eye conditions, offering home-based services, specialized agency services and community activities. It also renders services to school-age students at school districts in Illinois and Missouri. It is the only agency of its kind serving greater St. Louis, and the second oldest of its kind west of the Mississippi River.

For more information about Society activities and sponsorship opportunities, please visit the Society website at http://slsbvi.org/ or call David Ekin at 314.968.9000. Media relations contact: Jeff Dunlap at 314.993.6925.

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