On Sept. 19, the opens in a brand new windowCraig H. Neilsen Basis revealed the 2023 winners of its annual Visionary Prize, given to people who’re working to make the world a greater place for individuals dwelling with spinal twine accidents. This yr’s awards go to Vincent Pierce, Carmen Daniels Jones and Victor Calise — who will every obtain an unrestricted $1 million prize.

Vincent Pierce was named one among New Mobility’s opens in a brand new window2021 Folks of the 12 months for his work preventing for the lives of disabled nursing dwelling residents through the COVID pandemic. He’s the director of the opens in a brand new windowOpen Doorways basis, a poet and music producer that runs music packages for underserved youth and the founding father of #NursingHomeLivesMatter, which seeks to enhance situations for individuals of colour in long-term care.

Carmen Daniels Jones is a board member of United Spinal Affiliation who runs a advertising and marketing consulting agency that develops data-driven methods for organizations to market to, serve and make use of individuals with disabilities. She presently serves on the U.S. Entry Board, which coordinates efforts to enhance accessibility and inclusion within the federal authorities’s packages, companies and rules.

Victor Calise, a longtime incapacity advocate, is presently the director of Walmart’s just lately established Accessibility Middle of Excellence. Earlier than his time at Walmart, Calise spent over twenty years in public service opens in a brand new windowpreventing for higher accessibility in New York Metropolis, culminating in his 2012 to 2022 tenure as Commissioner of the New York Metropolis Mayor’s Workplace for Folks with Disabilities.

“The Neilsen Basis is honored to award Victor, Carmen, and Vincent the 2023 Visionary Prize,” stated Kym Eisner, govt director of the Neilsen Basis. “These three leaders exemplify the values of the Neilsen Basis and the dedication to altering the world for the higher — as our founder did. We’re proud to assist them as they proceed to make an enduring mark of their efforts to counterpoint the lives of individuals dwelling with SCI.”

Since 2020, the Neilsen Basis has awarded the Visionary Prize to 12 individuals throughout the U.S. and Canada. Up to now, 4 of the recipients — opens in a brand new windowReveca Torres, opens in a brand new windowAndrea Dalzell, opens in a brand new windowYannick Benjamin and Vincent Pierce — have additionally been NM Folks of the 12 months. Be taught extra about this yr’s winners on the opens in a brand new windowNeilsen Basis’s web site.