The IDA Pinnacle Award

The Pinnacle Award was created to recognize a dyslexic individual who has publicly acknowledged such, made significant achievements in his/her field of interest, is leading a successful life and is a role model for others with dyslexia. The Award is given annually; more than one person may receive this recognition in any given year; and the honoree does not have to be a member of the Association. The award is presented at the IDA's Annual Reading, Literacy & Learning Conference each fall.

2012
Phillip Shultz,  Pulitzer Prize winning Poet, Founder/ Director of the Writer’s Studio
One of American poetry's longtime masters of the art, Philip Schultz is a Pulitzer Prize-winning poet and the founder/director of The Writers Studio, a private school for fiction and poetry writing based in New York City. He is the author of several collections of poetry, including Failure (Harcourt, 2007), for which he won the 2008 Pulitzer Prize. Despite winning the Pulitzer Prize, Philip Schultz could never shake the feeling of being exiled to the “Dummy Class” in school, where he was largely ignored by his teachers and peers and not expected to succeed. Not until many years later, when his oldest son was diagnosed with the same condition, did Schultz realize that he was dyslexic.   We are honored to present the Pinnacle award to Mr. Schultz. 

2011
Steve Walker, President and Chief Executive Officer of New England Wood Pellet LLC 
Steve founded New England Wood Pellet in1992.  Since then it has grown to be the largest manufacturer and distributor of wood pellet fuel in the North Eastern US. 

We were introduced to Steve Walker through the HBO documentary, Journey into Dyslexia, directed and produced by Alan and Susan Raymond.  His story was so moving and compelling and his passion so great we knew right away that Steve should be 2011 Pinnacle Award recipient.

A self-taught engineer and entrepreneur, Steve is recognized as an international leader in the wood pellet sector.  Steve is a tireless promoter of the use of pellet fuels in residential, commercial and industrial applications, and has served on numerous industry committees and boards. 

As a child who grew up with dyslexia, Steve understands the challenges of the struggling reader, this fuels his passion to help all children succeed. 

2010
Danny Aiello, III, Director, Producer, Stuntman
Danny Aiello, III is an accomplished producer and director with twenty-five years experience in the industry.  He has worked on films as an actor, stuntman, stunt coordinator, director, and producer. Noted successes include producing and directing "18 Shades of Dust" a feature film nominated at the London Film Festival and the CBS television series "Dellaventura" nominated for the People's Choice Award for Best New Dramatic Series as well as over three hundred films and television shows such as "Sex in the City: the Movie", "Rescue Me", and "Stuart Little 2." He achieved all of this, and so much more, with dyslexia.   He discussed his dyslexia openly with his friends, colleagues and family and actually attributed his immense creativity to his learning difference. Danny's life was cut short in May of 2010 when he lost his battle with cancer.

2009              
Colin Poole, Artist
“Old world with a contemporary edge.”  A phrase that encapsulates the work of Santa Fe artist and dyslexic Colin Poole.  Poole, embraces the traditions of classic realism but imbues his still life and landscape paintings with a personality and resonance that engages all the senses. Regarding his dyslexia Poole states, “Dyslexia is one of the greatest gifts I have been fortunate enough to be blessed with. Of course it is an inseparable part of my being.”  Poole’s works speak to a variety of collectors, private and public. His clients range from Daimler-Benz and the U.S. Mint to Lourdes Cathedral and the National Audubon Society.

2008                
Stephen J. Cannell, Writer and Producer
An Emmy award-winning writer, producer, and Chairman of Cannell Studios, Cannell overcame severe dyslexia to become one of television's most prolific writers. In a highly successful career that spans three decades, he has created or co-created more than forty television shows, of which he has scripted more than 450 episodes and produced or executive produced more than 1,500 episodes. His hits include The Rockford Files, Greatest American Hero, The A-Team, Hunter, Riptide, Hardcastle & McCormick, 21 Jump Street, Wiseguy, The Commish, Profit, and the hit syndicated shows, Renegade and Silk Stalkings. Stephen’s passed away September of 2010 from complications with Melanoma.

2007            
Hunt Lowry, Producer
An extremely successful movie producer— his films include A Time to Kill, The Last of the Mohicans, and A Cinderella Story, among many others. Hunt Lowry, who recognizes himself as dyslexic, grew up in Oklahoma City and had so much trouble reading and writing that he had to repeat the third grade. He was fortunate that his dyslexia was diagnosed early, at age nine, and that he received special education to help him with school. Like other dyslexics, he still faced plenty of challenges, including any task that involved hand-eye coordination, such as tying his shoes. So Lowry learned to delegate. “I was Tom Sawyer very quickly on,” he says. “It took a little bit of diplomacy to teach kids in second and third grade to tie my shoes and make it seem like it was a good deal.”

Being able to delegate and, more broadly, to think of creative solutions to problems has been a big asset for Lowry. So, too, has the fact that, like many dyslexics, he doesn’t approach dilemmas in a linear way. He describes the way his brain works when he’s analyzing a script and trying to make it better as going around in a figure eight, rather than proceeding directly from A to B to C. “Anything is possible,” he says. “The way my brain flows, it doesn’t flow directly to the problem, and you find a lot of useful stuff along the way.” Despite the difficulties he faced early on in school as a dyslexic, Lowry feels that having dyslexia has been a benefit. “There were some hard times, especially in those early years, when you’re not keeping up in the classroom with your peers; that is tough,” he says. “But I really do look at it as a gift.”

2006 
The Honorable Kendrick B. Meek, United States Politician
Kendrick Meek’s academic career is a story filled with examples of the power and perseverance of a strong mother. A mother who was a teacher and educator by trade, so she quickly identified that maybe her son might need a little more assistance in school. A mother, who took the time to work with him, understood the importance of working with her son’s teachers and instilled a self-confidence in him, which he has embodied throughout his academic career.  Meek also credits wonderful teachers and mentors with helping him diagnose and learn how to live with dyslexia. It was as a student at Florida A&M University that he began working with the learning development and evaluation center and its director, a mentor he remains close with even to this day.

Meek feels so strongly about his personal story with dyslexia that he has traveled to schools to share his experience with young people as an example of what they can achieve and strive for. He hopes through his honest and straightforward presentation, young people will learn to not let any obstacle stand in the way of their dreams.  

Meek represented Florida’s 17th Congressional District, which includes Northern Miami-Dade and Broward Counties, Congressman Meek is a key member of a new generation of leaders who are setting a higher standard in public service and political leadership from 2003-2011.

2005
David Boies, Attorney, Boies, Schilling & Flexner, LLP 
David Bois may be the most brilliant litigator of his generation.  Famous for cases involving the 2004 presidential election, IBM, AOL, Microsoft and Napster, Boies was a runner-up for Time Magazine's "Person of the Year award.  His dyslexia is no match for his famous memory, his ability to juggle "17 things at once," and his enthusiasm for the rigors of the job.  David shines as living, breathing, working, winning proof that dyslexia does NOT stop a brilliant mind.

2004
Barbara Corcoran, CEO and Chair, The Corcoran Group
Fresh, fun and wildly successful, Barbara Corcoran went from getting straight D's in high school to building her own real estate empire, The Corcoran Group. Barbara has become one of the most powerful brokers in the country, and she is an inspiration to smart, spirited women everywhere. Profits from her books, including Use What You've Got and Other Business Lessons I Learned from My Mom, are donated directly to help fund the education of dyslexic children.

2003
Bruce Jenner,  Olympic Decathlon Champion 
Bruce Jenner wowed the world when he broke the decathlon world record at the 1976 Olympic Games. Since then he's gone on to become an author, speaker, sports commentator, actor, and a champion for learning- and physically-disabled children. His own struggle with dyslexia fueled his commitment to children with disabilities, and he works tirelessly to promote the message of "Finding the Champion Within."   

2002
P. Buckley Moss, Internationally Acclaimed Artist
Patricia Buckley Moss, the "People's Artist," struggled in school due to dyslexia, but her artistic talent led her on to Cooper Union and eventually to fame for her distinctive artwork portraying the "quiet beauty of rural scenery." She speaks around the nation about living and succeeding with a learning disability. Devotees of her art and philosophy formed the P. Buckley Moss Society to raise funds to support organizations working on behalf of children with learning disabilities.  

For information on nominating a future Pinnacle Award Recipient,
please contact Kristi Bowman, Director of Development