Dr. Marilyn Irwin, Project Co-Director of the Center for Disability Information and Referral, Indiana Institute on Disability and Community is the 2005 recipient of the Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies (ASCLA) Service Award a division of the American Library Association (ALA). The ASCLA Service award is presented annually to those demonstrating commitment and profound service to persons with disabilities. Dr Irwin also serves as the Co-Chair of Indiana AccessIT. A project funded by the Great Lakes ADA & Accessible IT Center. Dr. Irwin and the Indiana AccessIT Project provide training, materials, and technical assistance to post-secondary institutions in Indiana on website and information technology accessibility. The project has recently worked with the IvyTech Post-secondary system to help increase the accessibility of their electronic information resources to break down barriers for students and staff in post-secondary institutions in Indiana.

Dr. Irwin has also served as division counselor of the Council of the American Library Association, as chair of the Library Service to Developmentally Disabled Persons Membership Activity Group, and as chair of the Subcommittee to Develop Guidelines for Library Service to People with Mental Retardation. Through her work, Dr. Irwin has introduced and helped pass a resolution through Council requiring ALA to employ only accessible information technology. Dr. Irwin has been steadfast and effective in her efforts promoting accessible information technology, so that persons with disabilities will have greater opportunities and independence using information resources. The Great Lakes ADA & Accessible IT Center is proud to have Dr. Irwin, and the members of the Indiana AccessIT project as partners.