Radnor Second Grader to Receive Making a Difference Award

A second grader from Wayne Elementary School and Radnor Township School District’s director of transportation will be recognized at a ceremony Thursday for their efforts to show compassion and understanding toward children of all abilities.

Ava Lista and Burt Blackburn will each receive a Delaware County Right to Education Task Force 4th Annual Making A Difference Award at a May 14 ceremony at Interboro High School.

The awards will officially recognize Blackburn for what colleagues, parents and students have known all along: his compassion and support for all students of all abilities.

Ava, according to her nomination for the award, “is an exceptional student [who] has demonstrated acceptance and compassion towards her peers with special needs since kindergarten.”

The Delaware County Right to Education Task Force (comprised of parents, agencies and district representatives) was established to assist in improving education for all school-age children with learning disabilities, physical handicaps, emotional difficulties, vision, speech, language and hearing impairments. The Task Force makes recommendations to improve, strengthen, expand and monitor programs and services; speaks on behalf of special education students; and communicates their needs, problems and concerns to schools and other agencies providing special education programs.

(Photo: Burt Blackburn (left) and Ava Lista)