Dr. Lydia Block (Rising Star Award)

Lydia Susan Block, Ph.D., of Columbus, had a career in post-secondary education that spanned over 30 years.  She was the past Director, Learning Resources and Faculty Development at Ohio Wesleyan University, past AHEAD board member and author of various AHEAD publications and articles. She was the owner of Block Educational Consulting and a former Assistant Director of The Ohio State University’s Office of Disability Services where she also earned her Doctorate Degree in Education with a specialty in Learning Disabilities. Lydia was extremely well respected and well known in her field and provided hundreds of presentations, workshops and personal one-on-one student and family meetings.  Throughout her career she touched the lives of thousands of students, parents, elementary, secondary and postsecondary Disability Services professionals across the country.

Along with being a very hard working and successful career woman, Lydia loved her family and knew that everyone should strive to balance their priorities in order to live a well-rounded life. What Lydia took most pride in were her 2 daughters (Emily and Caroline) and when working with professionals in the field she would not only help them improve professionally but also help them develop a healthy work/life balance.

Lydia Block urged everyone to become familiar with the conditions and constraints surrounding a student’s transition from secondary to postsecondary education, as well as promoting universal design and faculty and professional development. She was an advocate both locally and nationally, mentored new as well as seasoned professionals and was instrumental in encouraging on-going communication among stakeholders.  It is in honor of Lydia Block’s passion and vast contributions that we name the OH-AHEAD Rising Star Award in her honor to give recognition to new rising Disability Services professionals who also show passion in their work, the capacity for future leadership and have in their brief professional experience gone above and beyond in service to students with disabilities and/or to our profession.

L. Scott Lissner (Outstanding Leadership Award)

L. Scott Lissner has served as the Americans With Disabilities Act Coordinator and 504 Compliance Officer for The Ohio State University since January of 2000. Housed in the Provost’s Office Lissner is also an Associate of the John Glenn School of Public Policy and serves as a lecturer for the Moritz College of Law, the Knowlton School of Architecture and Disability Studies. His teaching and public service informs his work as the university’s disability compliance officer; energizes his role in creating seamless access to all of the university’s programs, services, employment opportunities and facilities; as well as guiding his efforts as a catalyst for disability related initiatives.  Engaged in community and professional service, Lissner is a past President and current Public Policy Committee Chair of the Association on Higher Education And Disability and serves on the Boards of Directors for The Center for Disability Empowerment and VSA Ohio.  Lissner has been appointed to the Columbus Advisory Committee on Disability Issues, Ohio’s Help America Vote Act Committee and the Ohio Governor’s Council for People with Disabilities and presents frequently on disability issues.

Recent presentations include a technical assistance tour to Indonesia sponsored by the Department of State, sessions at the Association on Higher Education And Disability, the National Association of College and University Attorneys, University of Toledo Law Review Symposium on Compliance, The Ohio Attorney General’s Office, and workshops on building accommodation processes at the Universities of Tokyo and Doshisha in Japan.  Publications include “The Impact of the ADAAA of 2008 on Higher Education” Thompsons Publications; “Universal Design in the Institutional Setting: Weaving a Philosophy into Campus Planning” in Universal Design: From Accessibility to Zoning (J. Cowley-Evans & J. Nasser (Eds.); “From Legal Principle to Informed Practice” with J. E. Jarrow; “A Long View of Change” Disability Blog, The Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy;  “ADA Strategies: Managing Documentation, Compliance Requirements and Training”.

Previously Lissner has managed support programs and worked as a direct service provider at Longwood University, Adelphi University and New York Institute of Technology.  Lissner has Bachelor Degrees in Economics and Psychology from Rutgers University; a Masters in Counseling from City University of New York’s Hunter College; and engaged in doctoral studies and research in cognitive psychology at Adelphi University and Educational Policy at the University of Virginia (ABD).