Longtime director of the Perkins Library and chair of the Watertown Commission on Disability Kim Charlson, has garnered honors and accolades, and later this year she will receive one more when she receives the highest honor in the field of blindness.
In September, the Watertown resident will receive the 2024 Migel Medal at the American Foundation for the Blind’s (AFB) annual leadership conference, along with Susan Mazrui.
“It is an honor to recognize these two outstanding leaders, who have spent their lives making the world more inclusive and accessible for those who are blind or have low vision,” AFB President and CEO Eric Bridges said in announcement about the award. “Both Kim and Susan have made such a substantial impact on the field that their work will be felt for generations to come.”
Charlson was born with vision but when she was 11 she began to lose it due to complications of glaucoma. Her advocacy for people who are blind or visually impaired began early. When she was in college she founded a statewide group for students with blindness. At age 23, she became the youngest president of the American Council of the Blind’s Oregon state affiliate, according to a piece on Perkins’ website.
Since 2001, Charlson has served as the Executive Director of the Perkins Library, where she has led the library’s mission to provide accessible reading material to people who are blind, low vision, or have physical or reading disabilities. She has also served on committees from the local and federal level.
Charlson has chaired Watertown’s Commission on Disabilities since 2006. She also oversees the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) iCanConnect program which provided free communication technology and training. She also serves as co-chair of the Federal Communications Commission’s Disability Advisory Committee, and co-chair of the Coalition on Assistive Technology. She also serves on several committees for the Library of Congress’ National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled.
In 2013, Charlson was elected as the first woman president of the American Council of the Blind.
This week, the City Council passed a proclamation honoring Charlson for her work in Watertown as well as receiving the Migel Medal. She thanked the Council for the recognition.
“This is a tremendous honor and it has been my pleasure to be a resident of Watertown for nearly 40 years and a community that I totally embrace,” Charlson said. “I love the community, the diversity of our community and the inclusiveness of our community. From the early days of the Perkins School for the Blind in 1912 to one of our newer neighbors, Deaf Inc., Watertown has always opened its arms to people with disabilities and welcomed them as part of the community.”
She added that she is proud of the work that she and her fellow commissioners have done on the Commission on Disabilities. One of the accomplishments of the commission is to have the cable broadcasts of City Council meetings closed captioned. Charlson said Watertown has become a model for other communities in efforts to assist those with disabilities.
“Watertown is viewed as a community that is really regarded highly by other communities and other commissions on disabilities,” she said. “I get contacted often about how can we do what you are doing in Watertown, so we are doing it right.”
Councilor Lisa Feltner serves as the City Council’s liaison on the Commission on Disabilities, and said she appreciates Charlson’s leadership.
“Kim, I can’t thank you enough for your dedication and your example. You are such an expert and your calm, kind demeanor that is very effective yet persistent and never makes anyone feel bad about asking their questions or not understanding an issue,” Feltner said. “I wanted to say thank you for that and it is a continued great honor to serve on the commission with you and your leadership.”
Charlson and the Commission helped launch a program in Watertown that has become an important community resource, said Councilor Tony Palomba.
“I want to point out that when the Watertown Social Services Resource Specialist was just beginning and we had no money, it was a volunteer effort and we went to the Commission for our first $10,000 and it was Kim and her colleagues that made this possible and now we have two social services resource specialists: one funded by City, one funded by ARPA,” Palomba said.
Charlson thanked the Council for the proclamation.
“I appreciate all of your support. I appreciate this honor tremendously. It’s a pleasure to serve Watertown and be a resident of the wonderful community,” Charlson said.