Who is eligible? Individuals or organizations who:

• Provided direct services for individuals with disabilities
• Demonstrated skill and dedication in the realm of disability advocacy
• Used their lived experience to improve the lives of individuals with disabilities
• Conducted this work in 2024 or 2025
• Are located within the Commonwealth of Virginia

Examples of individuals or organizations to consider:

• A special education professional who continually perseveres in their advocacy for students with disabilities
• An organization who provided cost-effective ways to serve people with disabilities, despite new and challenging accessibility issues present in our society
• An individual with lived experience with disability who creatively problem-solved for themselves or others in a way that could serve as a model for other individuals with disabilities
• An organization that works to fill in gaps in services, supports or resources for people with disabilities

Nominations are due no later than March 31, 2026, at 11:59 pm.

Nominees will be informed of their nomination during April 2026 and asked to RSVP to the online Impact Awards Ceremony. The ceremony will take place on May 7, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. The event will be held virtually, live on Zoom, and later shared on our YouTube page. If you would like to register as an attendee, click here. All nominees will be recognized at the ceremony and awardees will be given a brief opportunity to speak on their work. Award recipients will be selected by a committee of dLCV staff & board members, based on a developed rubric of criteria. Awardees will be notified in advance of their award.

A nominee for dLCV’s Darrel Tillar Mason Excellence in Advocacy Award should have demonstrated effective support of the principles embodied in the mission of the dLCV by their advocacy. The nominator should specify which aspects of the dLCV’s mission have been the focus of the nominee’s advocacy.

The selection committee recognizes the importance of a family member’s tireless advocacy for his or her family member with a disability. Likewise, we recognize the importance of dedicated workers employed by agencies, companies, or organizations who faithfully serve individuals with disabilities. We also recognize there are many people with disabilities who serve as mentors, coaches, and self-advocates. However, we are seeking to bestow this award on an individual who has gone beyond doing a great job for a family member or an employer. The committee is interested in honoring an individual whose advocacy or representation has had an impact on the larger disability community, which can include the nominated person.

Nominees could be advocates, coaches, mentors, special education professionals, professors, direct service professionals, nonprofit employees, lawyers, judges, legislators or self-advocates. Self-advocates are individuals with disabilities who use their own stories and lived experience to shape a larger part of the disability rights or pride movement. Alternatively, the desired impact could be related to local, state or national volunteer initiatives that provide services to individuals with disabilities or raise the public’s awareness of the need for new, additional, or improved services for the disability community.

There are those who make changes so people with disabilities have the independence to participate fully in their own communities. Another impact could be related to local, state, or national policies or regulation – support of, or opposition to. For example, an elected official who championed a policy or regulation benefitting the disability community or defeated one that did not may make an excellent nominee. A lobbyist who educated elected officials and motivated the introduction of the positive policy or regulation could be nominated, as well. A private citizen who utilized community organizing strategies to encourage public support for the policy or regulation would also be a worthy nominee.

• Volunteer, personal efforts, and paid work are all eligible endeavors.
• The selection committee will give favorable consideration to advocacy over a sustained period.
• We are looking to support individuals, not businesses, governments, or non-profits, for this particular award.
• Nominees must be nominated for their impact in Virginia.

Nominees will be informed of their nomination during April 2026 and asked to RSVP to the online Impact Awards Ceremony. The ceremony will take place on May 7, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. The event will be held virtually, live on Zoom, and later shared on our YouTube page. If you would like to register as an attendee, click here. All nominees will be recognized at the ceremony and awardees will be given a brief opportunity to speak on their work. Award recipients will be selected by a committee of dLCV staff & board members, based on a developed rubric of criteria. Awardees will be notified in advance of their award.