Perkins School For The Blind

PERKINS SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND PROVIDES EDUCATION AND SERVICES FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS AROUND THE WORLD WHO ARE BLIND, DEAF-BLIND OR VISUALLY IMPAIRED.

AT PERKINS SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND, WE PROVIDE UNPARALLELED EDUCATION SERVICES TO CHILDREN WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS AND MULTIPLE DISABILITIES. WE TEACH CHILDREN ON OUR CAMPUS IN WATERTOWN, MASSACHUSETTS, AND SUPPORT STUDENTS AND TEACHERS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS ACROSS THE U.S., FOCUSING ON ACADEMIC, SOCIAL AND SELF-ADVOCACY SKILL BUILDING. WE ALSO EMPHASIZE TRANSITION SERVICES TO PREPARE YOUNG ADULTS WITH VISION LOSS FOR LIFE AFTER SCHOOL. DURING FY21, WE EDUCATED 172 STUDENTS ON CAMPUS AND SUPPORTED APPROXIMATELY 1,030 STUDENTS IN COMMUNITY PROGRAMS, INCLUDING OUR INFANT-TODDLER PROGRAM, EDUCATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS WITH PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS.

THE NATIONAL DEAF-BLIND EQUIPMENT DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM, KNOWN AS ICANCONNECT, PROVIDES FREE COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT AND TRAINING TO PEOPLE WHO ARE DEAF-BLIND AND LOW INCOME. ADMINISTERED BY THE FCC AND MANAGED BY PERKINS IN 22 STATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, ICANCONNECT HELPS PEOPLE WHO ARE DEAF-BLIND USE NEW TECHNOLOGIES TO LEAD LESS ISOLATED, MORE INDEPENDENT LIVES AND CONNECTS THEM WITH THEIR FRIENDS, FAMILY AND COMMUNITY. DURING FY21, PERKINS EQUIPPED AND TRAINED 963 CONSUMERS, HELPING THEM DEVELOP THE SKILLS NEEDED TO USE THE LIFE-CHANGING EQUIPMENT PROVIDED.

PERKINS SOLUTIONS DEPLOYS TECHNOLOGY TO OVERCOME LONG STANDING AND EMERGING ACCESSIBILITY BARRIERS. SINCE THE 1950S, WE'VE MANUFACTURED AND DISTRIBUTED THE WORLD'S MOST POPULAR, MOST DEPENDABLE BRAILLE TYPEWRITER. TODAY OUR EXPERTISE IN INCLUSIVE DESIGN SOLUTIONS IS AVAILABLE VIA PERKINS ACCESS, A CONSULTING SERVICE THAT HELPS BUSINESSES ENSURE THEIR DIGITAL PRODUCTS AND SERVICES ARE USABLE BY EVERYONE. DURING FY21, PERKINS SOLUTIONS DISTRIBUTED 3,221 BRAILLERS WORLDWIDE, AND ASSISTED OVER 26 ORGANIZATIONS WITH TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENTS AND MODIFICATIONS.

REGIONAL LIBRARYPERKINS LIBRARY HAS PROVIDED ACCESSIBLE READING MATERIAL TO PEOPLE WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENT AND OTHER DISABILITIES SINCE 1837. IN RECENT YEARS, WE HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY EXPANDED OUR OFFERINGS TO SERVE MORE PEOPLE WITH MORE NUANCED NEEDS. TODAY, WE DISTRIBUTE APPROXIMATELY 500,000 ACCESSIBLE BOOKS, MAGAZINES, NEWSPAPERS, DVDS AND MORE, AT NO COST TO THE ESTIMATED 25,000 PATRONS WE SERVE ANNUALLY. WE'VE ALSO LED THE CHARGE IN DISTRIBUTING ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES LIKE REFRESHABLE BRAILLE DISPLAYS WHILE PROVIDING A WEBSITE THAT ENABLES PEOPLE TO DOWNLOAD ACCESSIBLE READING MATERIAL.INTERNATIONALTHERE ARE MILLIONS OF CHILDREN WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENT AND MULTIPLE DISABILITIES (MDVI) AROUND THE WORLD WHO DON'T RECEIVE THE QUALITY EDUCATION THEY DESERVE. PERKINS INTERNATIONAL WORKS TO PUT THESE CHILDREN IN SCHOOL, EQUIP EDUCATORS WITH THE SPECIALIZED SKILLS THEY NEED TO TEACH THEM AND CONNECT THE MOST VULNERABLE FAMILIES WITH VITAL GOVERNMENTAL AND MEDICAL RESOURCES. DURING FY21, PERKINS INTERNATIONAL CONDUCTED THIS WORK IN OVER 16 COUNTRIES AND REGIONS. WE ARE LOOKING TO EXPAND OUR WORK IN CERTAIN COUNTRIES, SUCH AS INDIA WHICH HAS AS MANY AS 1 MILLION CHILDREN WITH MDVI, AND SEEK TO IMPROVE SCREENING AND ASSESSMENT, EARLY INTERVENTION PROGRAMS, SCHOOL-AGE EDUCATION AND FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES.