A Newfoundland couple has been named as the recipients of Henry Vlug Award by the Canadian Association of the Deaf.

Kimberly and Todd Churchill of Portugal Cove-St. Phillips fought for their son’s right to instruction in American sign language in the province’s school system. They took that fight all the way to a Human Rights Board of Inquiry which determined that their son Carter was discriminated against by the English school board.

The Churchill family was awarded the Henry Vlug Award last month in Ottawa. The award is presented for political, legal or advocacy actions that “has significantly increased the equality of Deaf Canadians,”named in honour of Canada’s first deaf lawyer.