About Ben Censoni
The Ben Censoni Award for Excellence in Public Service is the only award that recognizes public officials who strive to improve the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The award is named after the late Ben Censoni, former developmental disabilities director for Michigan and chair of the association’s Governmental Affairs Committee.
Ben Censoni was not only successful because of his intelligence and charm, but because of his persistence — his “press on regardless” attitude — and this kind of pressing stimulates ingenuity. He was energetic. He was honorable. He had conviction. He was resilient. He was not just an advocate — he was a champion. Given a little time, he always came up with a good tactic to use, even with the most thorny problems. But more than anything, he was admired most because he was optimistic.
Qualifications
The NASDDDS Board of Directors uses the following criteria to select recipients of the Ben Censoni Excellence in Public Service Award:
- (a) An employee of federal, state, county, or municipal government in a position directly related to persons with intellectual/developmental disabilities; or (b) a federal, state, or local elected official.
- An optimistic, forward-thinking person whose energy is focused on propelling service systems toward positive changes, and who recognizes a system that is evolving and is able to help it move in a positive, planful direction. Furthermore, the person should have a proven capability to establish and achieve ambitious goals.
- A person whose work evidences (as Ben’s did) a strong personal and professional commitment to human dignity and community integration for persons with intellectual/developmental disabilities, especially individuals with severe disabilities.
- An individual who has made one or more noteworthy contributions to the organization and delivery of disabilities services in the United States.
- Someone who equips his or her colleagues to make a difference and offers them the tools and resources they need to succeed. He or she should personify Ben’s belief that “people are what really matter.”
Censoni Award Recipients
Bernard Simons (2024)
NASDDDS is pleased this year to award Bernard “Bernie” Simons, former NASDDDS Board President and former director of developmental services in Maryland and Missouri, the Ben Censoni Award for Excellence in Public Service. Mr. Simons, who is the longest serving NASDDDS board member, fully embodies the spirit of the Ben Censoni Award with his vision for systems improvements that empower people receiving services and their families. NASDDDS credits Mr. Simons’ leadership for being an instrumental figure in the creation of the Supporting Families Community of Practice, a partnership between NASDDDS and the University of Missouri Kansas City. Serving as the Deputy Secretary for developmental disabilities (DDA) within the Maryland Department of Health (MDH) from April 2014 until his retirement in December 2023, Mr. Simons led DDA’s transformation of supports and services. Under his leadership at the DDA, he enhanced all services with a strong focus on self-directed support and competitive, integrated employment options. He devised strategies to ensure that individuals could receive community-based supports when they needed them, including the creation of two home and community based waivers to enhance the continuum of supports available in Maryland for people across the lifespan. Simons navigated his work by adhering to the guiding principles of self-determination, Employment First, and supporting families. He firmly believed that all individuals, given opportunity, training, and support tailored to their unique talents, skills, and abilities, can work and contribute to their communities. Prior to his role in Maryland, Simons served as the director of Missouri’s Division of Developmental Disabilities under the Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities for eight years. Like many leaders in our field, he started his stellar career as a direct support professional supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. In addition to these key roles, Bernie worked in service to people with disabilities and their families in multiple states, including Massachusetts, Tennessee, and others. His commitment to people with disabilities has spanned decades and has made positive impacts wherever he has gone. He has also been a treasured mentor to countless leaders across the country.
Steven Eidelman (2023)
This award recognizes not only Steve’s resilient and optimistic approach to public service, but also the numerous advancements in the field achieved under his watch. Steven Eidelman is the H. Rodney Sharp Professor of Human Services Policy and Leadership at the University of Delaware and the co-founder and Faculty Director of The National Leadership Consortium on Developmental Disabilities. He is a past President of the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD) and is looking forward to increased involvement with the Chairman’s office at Special Olympics International. Steve also serves as the Executive Director of The Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation. His recent efforts have focused on leadership development for practicing intellectual and developmental disabilities professionals.
Steve was also the Pennsylvania DD Director in charge when Pennhurst State School and Hospital was closed and has served as an expert witness on Olmstead-based deinstitutionalization litigation. His interests focus on development of disability professionals and on deinstitutionalization and the development of community supports for people with intellectual disabilities. He holds an MSW from The University of Maryland, an MBA from Loyola University Baltimore and a Post-Masters Certificate in the Administration of Social Services from Temple University. Steve and Rachel have been married for 48 years and have a daughter Jennifer, an attorney in DC and a son, David an engineer in DC.
Lilia Teninty (2023)
NASDDDS is pleased to award Lilia Teninty, former NASDDDS board member and Director of Developmental Services in Oregon, the Ben Censoni Award for Excellence in Public Service. Lilia demonstrates the level of tenacity that was a hallmark of Ben Censoni. This award recognizes not only Lilia’s resilient and optimistic approach to public service, but also the numerous advancements in the field achieved under her watch. Lilia served as I/DD director in three different states, demonstrating her commitment to public service on behalf of people with disabilities. Before returning to work in the private sector, Lilia served as the director in the Office of Developmental
Disability Services (ODDS) in the Oregon Department of Human Services for eight years effectively managing a system that serves over 31,000 children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. In this role, she oversaw COVID-19 and emergency response efforts for the I/DD system. She also led a successful strategic planning initiative to refocus on a shared vision after transition to a new
Medicaid authority. To align with that vision, ODDS developed and implemented a new assessment tool that informs new payment models for home and community–based services. Lilia championed Oregon’s Employment First initiative that tripled the number of Oregonians with I/DD in community employment over a five-year period. ODDS also implemented an outcome- based funding methodology for I/DD employment services, identified by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) as a best practice.
Mark A. Thomas (2022)
NASDDDS is pleased to award Mark A. Thomas, former NASDDDS Board President and Deputy Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health, the Ben Censoni Award for Excellence in Public Service. This award recognizes not only Mark’s resilient and optimistic approach to public service, but also the numerous advancements in the field achieved under his watch. Mark was first elected to the NASDDDS board in 2017 and assumed the presidency in January of 2020. Before pursuing a position in the private sector, Mr. Thomas served as Deputy Secretary at the Louisiana Department of Health. Prior to that role, he supported I/DD services in his home state as Assistant Secretary for the Louisiana Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities. He has more than 25 years of experience in the field of developmental disabilities. During his tenure at the Department of Health, Mr. Thomas led the State through the public health emergency caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and numerous significant regional emergencies all while maintaining an eye toward constant innovation and improvement of the State’s ability to effectively support people with I/DD and their families. Mr. Thomas’ significant accomplishments also include ending the state waiting list for I/DD services; implementing a tiered waiver; and, rebalancing the service delivery system. Under his leadership, NASDDDS began the association’s investment in a coordinated diversity, equity, and inclusion initiative aimed at advancing the efforts of the association and its member states in this area. His impact on Louisiana and the association is long lasting and his efforts will be felt for many generations to come.
Evelyn Perez (2021)
Evelyn Perez, Assistant Secretary for the Washington State Developmental Disabilities Administration, retired in 2021 after 35-years of state service. Many know Evelyn as a civil rights champion for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Evelyn’s career began with the Department of Social and Health Services as an attendant counselor at Lakeland Village in Medical Lake, and rising through the ranks to serve as the DDA Region 1 Administrator. In 2013, Evelyn led the division to become its own administration and served as the first assistant secretary for the newly created administration. Her distinguished career also includes founding membership for the Latino Leadership Network –supporting and empowering Latino state employees. As Evelyn took leadership of the administration, she not only built a formidable team, she established relationships with clients, their guardians and legislative stakeholders, who all gained a renewed respect for her advocacy and a presence that was felt across the entire state. Her work in informing person-centered supports and services was felt across the entire department and served as an example across the nation.