Tribute to Dr.'s John & Mary Morse
Donation protected
As many of you know Dr. Jack Morse, a highly respected member of our community, passed away in April of 2017. As a tribute to Jack and Mary for their high caliber of services, provided consistently and persistently, we are raising funds to place two stones on the American Printing House for the Blind (APH)Wall of Tribute to honor their decades of passionate and selfless work in the field of blindness and visual impairments. Jack and Mary's dedication has positively impacted thousands of lives of children, families and professionals throughout the USA and internationally.
Two inscribed stones with accompanying braille labels will be placed together among other benevolent leaders in the field of vision. The first stone will honor Jack and the second stone will honor Mary. Although they will be physically separated, these two adjoining stones will keep their spirits together forever.
We plan to raise $5,740 in 30 days, in time, to have the stones ready for the October 2017 APH Annual Conference and to honor the long and inspiring careers of Dr.'s Jack and Mary Morse. We greatly appreciate your donation of any size.
Tribute continued...
Jack was both a certified school psychologist and a licensed clinical psychologist. He provided direct services to children, schools and families; provided training related to visual impairments and blindness within his home state of NH, nationally and internationally; mentored, inspired and befriended hundreds of other pyshcologists - again, nationally and internationally; and engaged in research and publications. He worked with Dr. Phil Hatlen and others in bringing the two-original professional "blindness" organizations together into what we now know as AER. In addition, he served 2 terms as president of the NH Association of School Psychologists and 1 term as president of the NH Psychological Assoication. Upon the request of the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB), Jack provided 3 multi-day trainings each year for 3 years across the United States (U.S.), reaching hundreds of psychologists. For 18 years, Jack also served as the consulting psychologist on the International Cormelia de Lange Federation's scientific advisory board, working with families and educators regarding the needs of individuals with this disability. He was the recipient of numerous state and national awards. Upon his death, one young adult from South America wrote the following: "He was a wonderful human being who was unable to offend anyone. His tender smile and care was for all of us."
Mary and Jack were a team and, as part of a team, Mary provided direct educationally-related services to families and professionals on behalf of infants, preschoolers and students across the U.S. and internationally. She is both a certified special educator and a certified teacher of the visually impaired. Her passionate focus began early in her career at the Perkins School for the Blind and carried through to her formation and leadership of the MICE program for infants and toddlers in NH. MICE became a state and national model of excellence recognized by AFB in 1983.
Mary continues to provide support to students, families and professionals, and concentrates her energy on behalf of individuals with cerebral visual impairment (CVI), especially those with near normal visual acuity and fields of vision. She provides training both nationally and internationally to help increase understanding of CVI, and to increase awareness of the short- and long-term implications for individuals with “mild CVI” and the associated, frequently invisible, disabilities. She, as Jack, has received numerous state and national awards.
Both Jack and Mary extensively presented and published research to help advance evaluation, education, training and support for individuals with visual impairments. They also, both individually and as a team, leave a legacy of volunteerism whether as part of mentoring, 50 years of participating in AER and other professional organizations, research and publications, their joint support to the international Cornelia de Lange Federation, helping to teach English to immigrants and refugees (as Jack did up to the very week of his death), and taking Sunday calls from concerned parents (as Mary continues to do).
Given the above, and to reiterate, the purpose of this funding request is to honor the long and inspiring careers of Dr.’s Jack and Mary Morse. As individuals, either’s career is impressive; however, through their joint passion, joy and focus in helping individuals and families, they leave behind a legacy that will be felt by all of us for years to come whether we be service providers in the field of vision, work in any social service capacity, or are recipients of such services.
Two inscribed stones with accompanying braille labels will be placed together among other benevolent leaders in the field of vision. The first stone will honor Jack and the second stone will honor Mary. Although they will be physically separated, these two adjoining stones will keep their spirits together forever.
We plan to raise $5,740 in 30 days, in time, to have the stones ready for the October 2017 APH Annual Conference and to honor the long and inspiring careers of Dr.'s Jack and Mary Morse. We greatly appreciate your donation of any size.
Tribute continued...
Jack was both a certified school psychologist and a licensed clinical psychologist. He provided direct services to children, schools and families; provided training related to visual impairments and blindness within his home state of NH, nationally and internationally; mentored, inspired and befriended hundreds of other pyshcologists - again, nationally and internationally; and engaged in research and publications. He worked with Dr. Phil Hatlen and others in bringing the two-original professional "blindness" organizations together into what we now know as AER. In addition, he served 2 terms as president of the NH Association of School Psychologists and 1 term as president of the NH Psychological Assoication. Upon the request of the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB), Jack provided 3 multi-day trainings each year for 3 years across the United States (U.S.), reaching hundreds of psychologists. For 18 years, Jack also served as the consulting psychologist on the International Cormelia de Lange Federation's scientific advisory board, working with families and educators regarding the needs of individuals with this disability. He was the recipient of numerous state and national awards. Upon his death, one young adult from South America wrote the following: "He was a wonderful human being who was unable to offend anyone. His tender smile and care was for all of us."
Mary and Jack were a team and, as part of a team, Mary provided direct educationally-related services to families and professionals on behalf of infants, preschoolers and students across the U.S. and internationally. She is both a certified special educator and a certified teacher of the visually impaired. Her passionate focus began early in her career at the Perkins School for the Blind and carried through to her formation and leadership of the MICE program for infants and toddlers in NH. MICE became a state and national model of excellence recognized by AFB in 1983.
Mary continues to provide support to students, families and professionals, and concentrates her energy on behalf of individuals with cerebral visual impairment (CVI), especially those with near normal visual acuity and fields of vision. She provides training both nationally and internationally to help increase understanding of CVI, and to increase awareness of the short- and long-term implications for individuals with “mild CVI” and the associated, frequently invisible, disabilities. She, as Jack, has received numerous state and national awards.
Both Jack and Mary extensively presented and published research to help advance evaluation, education, training and support for individuals with visual impairments. They also, both individually and as a team, leave a legacy of volunteerism whether as part of mentoring, 50 years of participating in AER and other professional organizations, research and publications, their joint support to the international Cornelia de Lange Federation, helping to teach English to immigrants and refugees (as Jack did up to the very week of his death), and taking Sunday calls from concerned parents (as Mary continues to do).
Given the above, and to reiterate, the purpose of this funding request is to honor the long and inspiring careers of Dr.’s Jack and Mary Morse. As individuals, either’s career is impressive; however, through their joint passion, joy and focus in helping individuals and families, they leave behind a legacy that will be felt by all of us for years to come whether we be service providers in the field of vision, work in any social service capacity, or are recipients of such services.
Organizer
Stephanie Bissonette
Organizer
Hinesburg, VT
