Melissa Kelly, the Shelburne girl who lost her lifelong battle with Spina Bifida in 2007, is commemorated with a mural in Hyland Heights Elementary School where she is remembered as an inspiration to fellow students and teachers throughout her seven years there.

And now she is being heralded by the naming of one of two annual awards to be given to accessibility innovations and advances by not-for-profit groups and businesses in the town.

The awards were announced prior to a meeting of town council earlier in June. They come at a time when the Town itself

in the midst of ambitious programs to improve accessibility at Centre Dufferin Recreation Complex and at the Grace Tipling Hall.

The Melissa Kelly Excellence in Access award is for showing

exceptional commitment to making their business or not-for-profit organization accessible to people with disabilities,” an outline says.

This could include exceptional customer service, installation of ramps, designing signage for vision-impaired persons, among other worthy things.

The award will consist of a plaque and a window postcard along with a letter of congratulations from the Town. The cost of a plaque or trophy is not to exceed $125. There is no monetary prize.

The second award is The Town of Shelburne Exceptional Achievement in Access Award. This one will not be given necessarily on an annual basis but could potentially be awarded every year at the same time as the Kelly one.

Examples of projects to be considered include but are not limited to such as comprehensive redesigns and construction of more accessible buildings, venues or websites. This Town award is intended for larger, more comprehensive projects than the Melissa Kelly one.

There can be no more than one winner in any given year. The Town’s award can cost as much as $250, but there is no cash prize to go with the plaque or trophy.

The Melissa Kelly Award will be presented for the first time during National Disability Awareness Week 2011. Accessibility Awareness Committee chair Diane Gallinger said the Town’s award, if there is a winner, would be presented at the same time.