Spring 2007 In this issue: Boston Celtics Braille Challenge Kilimanjaro The Perkins Trust Page 2 Officers of the Corporation & Board of Trustees* Chair of the Board Janet B. James Vice Chair of the Board Linda DiBenedetto** Chair of the Corporation C. Richard Carlson Secretary Charles A. Cheever Treasurer Charles C.J. Platt Dr. Andrew W. Chapman** Frederic M. Clifford** William J. Edwards Brenda J. Furlong Paul S. Goodof Corinne Grousbeck Loretta Warner Holway Philip L. Ladd William A. Lowell Julio Marenghi Andrea Lamp Peabody W. David Power Paul A. Raia** * As of November 6, 2006 ** Appointed by the Governor of the Commonwealth Cover: Perkins student. Kaylene Sheran, at a Perkins Outreach weekend for public school students. Message from the President As we start our 178th year of service, I see the faces of children learning, achieving and growing everyday at Perkins School for the Blind. I see the hard work of our dedicated and talented staff and volunteers. I meet children and parents in the community who have new experiences that Perkins has provided for them. I visit children who are deafblind and blind with multiple disabilities in developing countries who are making important steps toward independence. Every day, I am humbled by the achievements of the devoted members of the Perkins family. In this issue of The Lantern magazine, you’ll meet Mike Pedone, a high school student on our campus; Kaylene Sheran, a girl attending a Boston public school and coming to Perkins for weekend programs; Galina Epifanova, one of our international partners helping us transform the lives of children who are deafblind and blind with other disabilities in Russia and many others. Multiply their achievements in all of our campus programs and in all of the ways we reach people in New England, nationally and 61 countries around the world. Then you get a sense of the core 87,000 members of the Perkins family we serve every year with your help and support. But that 87,000 is only the start. On behalf of the students, staff, families, alumni, volunteers and trustees of Perkins School for the Blind, thank you for being part of the Perkins family. The future creates so many opportunities when we strive together. Again, thank you for helping us to do so much. With your involvement, each tomorrow will be a day of achievement and possibilities for all those we serve. Sincerely, Steven M. Rothstein President Perkins School for the Blind Page 3 Contents Campus Meet Mike Pedone 4 Boston Celtics 5 Deafblind students at Bruins 6 Massachusetts Inaugurations 6 Statehouse at Perkins 7 Arts at the Pru 7 Community Meet Kaylene Sheran 8 Babies in New Bedford 9 Braille Challenge 9 Vision 5K 10 Spanish in the Library 11 Around the World Galina Epifanova 12 The Middle East 13 Eric Weihenmayer & Kilimanjaro 14 The Perkins Family 14 The Perkins Trust 16 Reflections 18 Page 4 Campus Meet Mike Pedone One thing you have to know about Mike Pedone is that he loves New York City. "It’s a thriving place," he says. "It’s fast, has a hustle and bustle and that’s a good feeling." He has also heard that the organized system of blocks and extensive public transportation makes it an easy city for a person who’s blind to get around. In his fourth year at Perkins, Mike, who has been blind since birth, lives on campus and has a full schedule of classes: math, US history, braille, computers, English, art and home & personal management, which prepares students for living independently. He enjoys computers and the web, downloading music and emailing friends. He carries to class a portable braille note-taker that prints in both braille and standard print. Perkins has opened doors to Mike. He has the technology he needs to succeed academically, has started a part-time job at Old Country Buffet, and enjoys the regular art class trips to the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston where he and his classmates don special gloves to feel the art. Back at Perkins and informed by his time at the MFA, he then created his own sculpture. "Oh," adds Mike. "I work out at the gym and I like the New York Knicks, as well. But nothing as much as the Yankees." When Mike talks about college, it’s no surprise that he’s hoping for schools in New York, but he says that he’s open to other places as well. Mike knows that he’ll make it anywhere. Page 5 Green Eggs, Dr. Seuss & the Celtics Boston Celtics captain Paul Pierce, forward Brian Scalabrine and Managing Partner and Governor Wyc Grousbeck read the children’s classic Horton Hatches the Egg along with excited Perkins students. Everyone used special editions of the children’s classic in both large print and Braille. The event joined Perkins students with students around the country in celebrating the 10th annual National Education Association "Read Across America" week. The event celebrates Dr. Theodore Geisel, a.k.a. Dr. Seuss, on the occasion of what would have been his 103rd birthday, and encourages children of all ages and ability levels to join together and read. The Boston Celtics understand the importance of reading -- they run their own "Read to Achieve" program. The Celtics luminaries and two Perkins high school students read aloud to an enraptured crowd of preschool and Lower School students. It was difficult to tell what was the most exciting -- that Horton the elephant persevered and hatched an egg, that the Celtics had as much fun as readers, or that all children in the audience and their families received free tickets to a Celtics game. Thank you to the Boston Celtics for helping show that reading -- and basketball -- is for everyone. Page 6 Deafblind Program on Ice Students who are deafblind need a "total learning environment." Education is constant. In preparation for a tour of TD Banknorth Garden, home of the Boston Bruins, students in Perkins Deafblind Program learned about hockey by playing a remote control hockey game and feeling cold ice cubes. At the Garden in an experience enjoyed by few of even the most avid fans, they got to touch the real objects they’d been studying. They slid on the ice, played in the penalty box, donned on jerseys and brandished hockey sticks. The Perkins classroom really is everywhere. The Gift of Song The Perkins Chorus was thrilled to offer both Governor Deval Patrick and Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakely the gift of song at their respective inaugurations in January. Governor Patrick previously had visited Perkins during his campaign, speaking publicly on campus with Senator John Kerry about disability rights. While on campus, good humored Senator Kerry joked to the crowd about Katie Condo, President of the Perkins Student Council, when she asked him a question. Senator Kerry said that he had a lot to learn from Katie -- after all, she knew how to be elected president. Page7 The Statehouse Comes to Perkins On March 5th, Perkins hosted the Massachusetts House and Senate Ways and Means Committee hearing on key human service issues. Hundreds of State legislators, state human service commissioners, staff and others gathered to work on the state budget for fiscal year 2008. Perkins students and the public had an exciting chance to witness our government in action first-hand. Art Everywhere! It makes sense to most that people who are blind can sculpt bowls, pitchers, castles and masks. Yet many are surprised that so many Perkins students paint, draw and make beautiful quilts. Art at Perkins is alive and well. Imagination, sense of touch, visual memory (if a student once had sight), residual vision, and the desire to communicate can guide students through art projects. For students in the Perkins Deafblind Program who may have some vision but limited means for communication, drawing or creating a collage of favorite things can help express basic needs. For others, working independently, learning about spatial relations and brainstorming are all benefits of the artistic process. Some high school students discuss abstract art, realism and what makes up a landscape. Whether addressing a college-bound student’s critical thinking or helping another’s fear of touching new things, art helps students express themselves. This school year, the public has been able to see students’ artistic expressions during Perkins Art Shows at Watertown’s Arsenal Mall and Boston’s Prudential Center. The Perkins Chorus and a trio of accordion, fiddle and drums played at both openings, bringing together fine art, music, Perkins students and the public in celebrations of possibility. Page 8 Community Meet Kaylene Sheran -- the foam painter extraordinaire on the cover of the Lantern Kaylene lives at home, attends the first grade at a Boston public school, and has been a part of the Perkins community her whole life. A teacher from Perkins Infant/Toddler Program worked with Kaylene and her parents at home when she was four-months old. Kaylene’s mother, Mary, recently brought a new Perkins publication, Welcoming Students with Visual Impairment to Your School, to Kaylene’s school as a resource. This fall, Kaylene attended her first Outreach Activity for young public school students. It was a Halloween weekend that included such fun as mask-making and such skill development as cooking simple meals and learning how to get ready for bed independently. They visited The Belkin Family Lookout Farm in South Natick, nuzzling with the animals, playing and riding a train. "She is another child now, when she is home," says Mary. "This was a great boost for her confidence. She was with other children who were just like her. She saw them doing things for themselves and by themselves, so it motivated her to try new things. This weekend was the first small step towards independence." Kaylene made more friends at a winter Outreach Creative Arts Weekend and is excited for more, especially for more pink foam painting. Page 9 Babies in New Bedford Having a child who is blind can be intimidating and isolating. This is why Perkins started the Infant/Toddler Program two decades ago to send Perkins teachers into homes and bring families to weekly groups at Perkins for support. Because every community has families with infants and toddlers who are blind or visually impaired but not everyone can make it to campus, Perkins recently collaborated with three early intervention agencies in New Bedford to offer two six-week programs for families with blind babies or toddlers. Just like the Infant/Toddler Program on campus, Perkins teachers lead the group in play and learning, then bring the parents together to talk while early intervention staff work with the children. With the success of the New Bedford group and broader community support, Perkins hopes to be able to offer similar groups in other parts of the state where families have fewer options. Perkins is grateful to CVS/pharmacy Charitable Trust and The Lehman Brothers Foundation for their support of Perkins’ work with infants and toddlers. Braille Challenge Perkins is a proud sponsor of the 2007 Braille Challenge, an academic contest designed by the Braille Institute of America to motivate excellence in school-age braille readers. Winners earn prizes of Perkins Products manufactured by Howe Press that encourage braille literacy, the greatest single predictor of future employment for people who are blind. Braille is literacy; no talking computer will ever replace the ability to read on one’s own. In the Braille Challenge, hundreds of students across the United States and Canada test their braille skills through reading comprehension, proofreading, speed and accuracy, charts and graphs. With braille, the possibilities are endless. Page 10 VISION 5K Join the Perkins Team! Come walk, run, cheer with Perkins students, staff and friends - including President Steven Rothstein running blindfolded! WHAT: A 5K Run and Walk WHEN: Saturday, June 2, 2007, 8:00 am –11:00 am WHERE: The Fenway (Race starts at Roberto Clemente Field) WHO: Blind and sighted runners and walkers (Elite blind athletes from around the world) WHY: To raise awareness and funds for the blind and visually impaired. HOW IT HELPS: Funds raised will benefit: * The Carroll Center for the Blind * Greater Boston Guild for the Blind * MAB Community Services * National Braille Press * Perkins School for the Blind Feel It! * A UNIQUE community event that brings together blind and sighted runners. * The only 5K championship race in the country for blind athletes. * Celebrity/elite athletes serve as guides for vision impaired runners. * Live music performances by famous local artists * Food pavilions by local restaurants add to the party. * Fun and an educational experience for the whole family. Live It! * Show solidarity for blind athletes - run blindfolded with a sighted guide. * Walkers can also participate in the blindfold challenge. * Raise awareness about the capabilities of blind athletes. * Raise funds to support services for the blind and visually impaired. For more information or to register, go to www.vision5k.org. Page 11 Perkins Braille & Talking Book Library A Library for Everyone Perkins Braille & Talking Book Library (BTBL) is the free neighborhood library for most of New England. People who have difficulty reading standard print or cannot hold a book due to a physical limitation receive books and magazines on tape, in braille or enlarged print through the mail. Patrons include children learning to read with their parents through sharing picture books with braille overlays, adults listening to the newspaper by phone, and older people beginning to use tapes as their vision declines. To contact the Perkins Library, call 617-972-7240, 1-800-852-3133, or email Library@Perkins.org BTBL por Todos Did you know that Perkins BTBL now has a Reader Advisor fluent in Spanish? The library also offers four Spanish language newspapers through the Newsline telephone service and four additional magazines on cassette. Para hacer una cita para visitarnos, o si tiene preguntas por favor llame a James Gleason al 617-972-7468 o contáctelo por correo electrónico James.Gleason@Perkins.org. Page 12 Around The World Meet Galina Epifanova In the early 1970’s Galina began working as a teacher in a small home for children who are deafblind, the only such residential school in the entire Soviet Union. Only 30 children were enrolled. Later, as deputy director of education, Galina worked tirelessly to improve the education and reach more children. The school moved to a campus-like setting in Sergiev Posad and grew quickly to serve 130 children. There was still a great need, but Galina had already made a significant difference. The change from the U.S.S.R. to Russia brought a rapid reduction of state support, crippling the Deafblind Children’s Home. By 1995, Galina had succeeded in keeping the program going, but there was little heat, leaking roofs, the children were lucky to have two meals a day, and staff often worked months without pay. But Galina knew the needs of deafblind children. She knew her mission. The school survived. Galina’s dedication and savvy attracted the attention of the Hilton/Perkins Program and other international agencies. Today, Galina is Director of the Deafblind Children’s Home. She has helped Perkins provide training to her staff and helped Perkins develop models for technical support and other assistance. The school now serves 150 children from across Russia, 50 who are orphans. There are educational buildings, workshops, a gym, a greenhouse and a café where students get job-training by serving visitors. This school has served as a model for others in Russia and beyond. In 2006, the European Conference on the Problems of Deafblind Education named the staff of the Sergiev Posad Children’s Home the best in the field. Perkins awarded Galina the Anne Sullivan Medal for her commitment and accomplishments on behalf of children who are deafblind. Perkins celebrates Galina’s work and is proud that Galina is one of our long-term international partners changing lives around the world. Page 13 New Day in the Middle East Charles Dickens, writing in American Notes about his 1842 visit to Perkins, established Perkins as a world educational leader. For the past two decades Perkins has been transforming that reputation into direct action, developing programs for children who are deafblind or blind with multiple disabilities in Asia, Africa, Latin America, Eastern Europe and Russia where opportunities for those children have been scarce. Perkins partners with local schools, organizations, governments and universities to create societies that support deafblind children. In 1989, with the support of The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, when Perkins began working in Latin America, there were five programs for deafblind children in the entire region; today Latin America flourishes with over 50 projects in 14 countries. With that track record of success, Perkins has begun work in the Middle East. Bahrain: We sponsor workshops and guidance to the Friendship Society for the Blind. Israel: We are helping the Keren Or, Inc. with their educational services to blind children with multiple impairments. Jordan: We are working with the Holy Land Institute for the Deaf to strengthen their first deafblind program. Saudi Arabia: 1,000 Perkins Braillers®, the foundation of braille literacy, are being distributed to children who are blind, schools and agencies throughout the country. Page 14 Perkins & The Kilimanjaro Blind Trust The Kilimanjaro Blind Trust, Inc. was founded by a group of friends who climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania in September 2005, led by Erik Weihenmayer, the renowned mountain climber who is blind. The five blind climbers reached the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro simultaneously, setting a new record. During their time in Africa, Erik and his friends visited children who were blind and decided that they wanted to make a difference in that area of the world. They began the Kilimanjaro Blind Trust to invest in projects in Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda to help blind children lead fruitful and productive lives. The Kilimanjaro Blind Trust, Inc. is partnering with Perkins School for the Blind because of our success helping blind children in over 61 developing countries, including the countries of East Africa. This new partnership will reach thousands of children through: * Teaching braille literacy * Distributing new Perkins Braillers®, the pencil and paper for people who are blind * Training teachers to work with students who are blind * Providing training in, and repair of, Perkins Braillers® Together, the Kilimanjaro Blind Trust, Inc. and Perkins are creating a new day for blind children in East Africa. The Perkins Family Volunteer Extraordinaire The Boston Celitcs called Carla Lynton (2nd right) center court during a winter home game. The announcer explained how Carla has been volunteering full-time, every school day, in Perkins Deafblind Program for over 30 years. The crowd went wild. So do the many, many children whose lives Carla continues to touch every day. Page 15 New Supervisor of Perkins Lower School Robert Hair has always worked in the education of children who are blind. He began his career at the South Carolina School for the Blind where he taught music and independent living skills. After six years in the classroom and two as Assistant Principal, Rob Hair worked for five years as Principal, supervising pre-school through high school. Under his leadership, the curriculum was revitalized and the enrollment soared over forty percent. We are pleased to report that Rob Hair joined the Perkins community in August as Supervisor of Perkins Lower School for day and residential students ages six to 14. A Shining Star The Horace Mann School for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing in Boston celebrated Perkins Spokesperson and Deafblind Program alumna, Jaimi Lard, for being a Successful Deaf Leader. Jaimi has testified in front of Congress, spoken at a pan-Latin American conference of parents for deafblind children and inspired nearly 10,000 adults at last summer‘s Lions Club International Convention. At the Horace Mann School ceremony, a girl timidly approached Jaimi and explained that she was deaf and slowly losing her vision and that someday she would be deafblind. She said that if Jaimi could have such a rich life, then so could she. She said this was the first day she felt hope. Congratulations, Jaimi, on your award. Thank you for the difference you make every day. A Literary Spotlight Rachel Gould was selected as one of only four recipients of the 2007 Penguin Young Readers Group Award in recognition of her work with children in Perkins Braille & Talking Book Library (BTBL). Rachel creates bibliographies, selects books for young patrons, and helps public libraries be aware that children who cannot read traditional print can find free books and tapes at Perkins. She doubled participation in Perkins BTBL summer reading program for kids, created a new accessible kids’ website and published the first BTBL newsletter specifically for children and youth. Of the over 22,000 New England patrons of Perkins BTBL, 2,500 are children between ages one and 18. Page 16 The Perkins Trust Greetings As the Executive Director of the Perkins Trust, I want to thank you for spending time with our Spring 2007 Lantern magazine and for your interest in and support of Perkins. Thank you for being members of the Perkins family. Trustees, donors, volunteers, advocates, teachers, staff, friends -- the entire Perkins family is so important for continuing this life-transforming work. I hope you are proud of your accomplishments, just as we are proud of the Perkins students and the tens of thousands of others around the world we enable to live life to the fullest. Many thanks and best wishes, Ellie Starr Planned Giving -- Peace of Mind Wade and Aliza Edwards know how to make success happen. When their son, Win, was born 12 years ago and diagnosed with CHARGE Syndrome, a rare condition of birth defects that involve hearing and sight, Wade and Aliza Edwards refused to be limited by the disappointing news. Win’s doctors diagnosed very poor health and a very limited quality of life. Once their son reached school, teachers in his Detroit school advised that he was basically uneducable and that he would never learn sign language. The Edwards left Michigan and moved to Massachusetts so Win could attend Perkins. These days, Win does things his original doctors and teachers would have never imagined. He has strong sign-language skills; he has learned basic reading, writing and math skills; he eats and enjoys solid food; he runs on the track, swims, loves games and rides horses regularly. These days, Wade and Aliza have been thinking of ways of expressing their gratitude to Perkins. They have done this in the form of a Deferred Charitable Gift Annuity. "There is both immediate and long-term benefit from the gift for both Perkins and ourselves," explains Wade. "In the immediate, we feel good that we are helping Perkins, and long-term, Perkins will have the benefit of the growth of the assets and we will receive greater income than what the assets usually bring." The Edwards think of the Deferred Charitable Gift Annuity as a living insurance policy. Aliza is listed as the sole annuitant, and they both have peace of mind that her living needs won’t be compromised in the future. Wade believes that planned giving is not just for the elderly. "We gain current tax benefits and life-long income that begins when Aliza turns 62. This is a program that takes the worry out of gifting during middle age." Above all, the Edwards know they are helping Perkins and parents like themselves. "We know that our gift will enable Perkins to continue helping other families as Perkins has helped ours." Page 17 The 2007 Perkins Possibilities Gala The difference a day makes On Thursday, May 10, 2007, we’re celebrating the spirit of Perkins at our Perkins Possibilities Gala held on the School’s beautiful campus nestled along the Charles River in Watertown. The evening will begin with a cocktail reception in the Howe Building where 500 guests will meet and mingle and have the opportunity to explore the Perkins History Museum. The Gala dinner and program, including a performance by the Perkins Student Chorus, will take place under a large heated tent, located in front of Perkins Braille & Talking Book Library. For more information about The Perkins Possibilities Gala, contact Emily Goodman at 617-972-7583 or emily.goodman@Perkins.org. Special thanks to Gala Co-Chairs Corinne & Wyc Grousbeck, and members of the Gala Committee. Gala Committee Sandra & David Bakalar Charles D. Baker Deborah & C. Richard Carlson Paul Cellucci Barbara & Frederic M. Clifford Mindy d’Arbeloff Rita & Robert Davis Betsy & Stephen Demirjian Linda & Thomas DiBenedetto Beth Dickerson & David Drubner Susan & John Doran Jennifer Eckert Anne Finucane Rachael Goldfarb Daisy & William Helman Janet & William James Lisa & Martin Joyce Estrellita Karsh Dennis J. Kearney, Esq. Elizabeth Weir Kurtin Soosie Lazenby & George Spowart Kristina & Patrick Lyons Beth Madison Julio Marenghi Kathy & Joe O’Donnell Judy & Stephen Pagliuca Dusty S. Rhodes Natalie & Alan Rothstein Patricia & Michael Rotondi Ann-Elizabeth & Philip Rueppel Thomas G. Stemberg Tracy Vitols & Bill Gamelli Honorary Members Timothy P. Cahill, State Treasurer Robert E. Travaglini, Senate President Page 18 Reflections Perkins people and happenings on and off campus YouTube You can now watch two short videos from Perkins on YouTube. A one minute version of our Faces of Perkins video is a glance at the magic on campus, in the community and around the world. A short version of The Perkins Insider, a cable television show created by Perkins students, offers students’ perspectives of Perkins, of being blind, and of the future. The Perkins Website, www.Perkins.org, can connect you directly to both videos. A Story Heard Around the World Perkins students, Perkins Braille & Talking Book Library borrowers, and staff helped break a Guinness Book record. Armed with Charlotte’s Web, books in large print, braille and cassette tape, they joined more than 547,000 readers around the world to more than double the previously held record for the "Most People Reading Aloud Simultaneously in Multiple Locations." Charlotte the spider and her friend Wilbur the pig had never before had such a large audience. Reading really is for everyone. Page19 Music in the Heart Lisa Hilton celebrates her family’s relationship with Perkins. The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation supported Perkins to help launch programs that today make a difference for children who are deafblind or blind with multiple disabilities in 61 developing countries. Lisa Hilton has made a difference right here in Perkins classrooms. An accomplished jazz pianist, Hilton gave her second master class at Perkins as well as a free evening concert for the community. "The piano is how I communicate, how I speak," said Hilton. A Perkins student also said that music is how he expresses himself. Thank you, Lisa, for helping Perkins students communicate so beautifully. www.Perkins.org The Perkins website is a resource for parents, educators and friends around the world. Fourth-grade students in Montana search for information about Helen Keller, teachers of the blind in Thailand find new educational methods, and families in Maine discover how to begin the Perkins admissions process for their son. Stay tuned this May for a comprehensive redesign of www.Perkins.org, a resource for the entire Perkins family. Commitment to Braille Literacy The United States Department of Commerce recognized Perkins Howe Press for excellence providing the Perkins Brailler ® to 143 countries in 2006. The Perkins Brailler ® is the pencil and paper for people everywhere who are blind. It is the foundation of Braille literacy. To date, over 300,000 Perkins Braillers ® have been sent around the world. Page 20 Perkins School for the Blind Founded in 1829 as the nation’s first school for the blind, Perkins today serves over 87,000 infants and elders in their homes; school-age students on campus and in the community; and deafblind children in 61 developing countries. The school is an accredited member of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges and the National Association of Independent Schools. It is licensed by the Massachusetts Departments of Education and Mental Retardation and by the Commonwealth’s Department of Early Education and Care. Perkins School for the Blind admits students of any race, gender, color, creed, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, color, creed, national or ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, scholarship, athletic and other school-administered programs.