WEST LAFAYETTE – A blind Purdue University alumnus and entrepreneur who founded a startup company at the Purdue Research Park has been recognized by the National Federation of the Blind.

Cary Supalo was one of four winners of the Dr. Jacob Bolotin Award, which recognizes people and organizations who have contributed to the full integration of the blind into society. Bolotin was the first person born blind to become a fully licensed medical doctor.

Supalo, who also earned a doctorate in chemistry from Pennsylvania State University, was recognized for his work at Penn State’s Independent Laboratory Access for the Blind. The lab’s goal is to encourage students who are blind and visually impaired to consider careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

The products and services developed by ILAB are being commercialized by Purdue Research Park-based Independence Science LLC, the company founded by Supalo.

“Cary was not only involved in the design of many of the ILAB tools and experiments, but he also conceived of and organized the study that demonstrated their effectiveness in the high school laboratory,” said Tom Mallouk, the Evan Pugh Professor of Materials Chemistry and Physics at Penn State. “Cary has been the main person driving the licensing and commercialization of the technology. His energy, insight, commitment and connections to the community of educators and students with disabilities have been essential factors in the project’s success.”