VIDBE-Q
Volume 62 Issue 2
leadership and commitment to the field through service, education, and research. Dr. Hatton received this
prestigious award because she has been an outstanding leader in this field for over 20 years in higher
education and before that she was a general education teacher, itinerant teacher of students with visual
impairments, and an administrator of programs for typically developing students and students with visual
impairments. She also established early intervention programs for the Governor Morehead School for the
Blind as well as served on their board for 12 years.
She has written numerous articles in early intervention, children with multiple disabilities, and behavioral
phenotype research with students with visual impairments. Deborah has chaired or co-chaired the enrichment
committees for the NLCSD program, and is forever offering advice and support to her students at Vanderbilt
University, as well as other scholars in the NLCSD program. She wants to ensure that the field continues to
grow and make strides in providing excellent services for students with visual impairments.
For the past, at least 4 years, Deborah has chaired the position paper committee for DVIDB. As a result
of her pushing for current research and pressing deadlines, DVIDB has 3 current position papers, and a few
more in the pipeline. She is committed to seeing that our field has reliable information that can guide decisions
and policy-making efforts.
This past year Deborah has chaired the efforts to update the TVI training standards. This is a monumental
task. She has conference calls monthly, and sometimes more, to ensure that the standards are being revised
in a transparent method with as much input from the field as possible. The amount of time and effort for this
work is immeasurable and the impact will forever change the way that all personnel preparation institutions
train teachers of students with visual impairments.
Deborah is a true mentor to all who come across her path. She is true champion for our field.
18
