Expanding Educational Opportunities

Providing increased educational opportunities to children who are deafblind or blind with additional disabilities is at the core of Perkins' international efforts. How a child who is blind learns about the world is dramatically different than a child with vision. If a child who is blind has additional disabilities, including hearing impairments, it is particularly important to support their growth and learning through specialized instruction. There are two main areas that we emphasize for providing quality services to children: Early Childhood Education and Programs for School-Aged Children. 

Early Childhood Education

A deafblind child and his teacher engage in sensory stimulation activities, Holy Cross Service Society, India

It is estimated that 90 percent of what a sighted child learns is learned through visual and auditory means. Without these "distance" senses, a child is less aware of the world, less able to explore and imitate, and less likely to learn without guidance. Early identification and education services guide learning by working with the child, as well as parents and caregivers, as soon as possible after the impairments are identified. By doing so, the child's developmental process is facilitated based on what the child can do, rather than on what those around might view as limitations.

Home-based instruction is the foundation of the early intervention initiatives and begins with a detailed assessment of the abilities and special needs of the child. We train professionals to work with parents in creating specific strategies for the developmental areas such as communication, motor skills, social development and much more. These strategies provide children with the stimulation necessary to assist in bonding with their families and environments. The development of these skills lays a strong foundation for a child's ability to learn and benefit from quality educational services. 

Programs for School Aged Children

The underlying premise of Perkins' educational programs is that each child is unique with individual capacities and interests. In order to build on the capabilities of children with visual impairments and additional disabilities, there must be individualized instruction and support. Since education systems are created to meet the needs of the majority of a population, it is critical to make the same basic services available for students with varying needs. 

A deafblind boy and Steve Perreault, Perkins Latin America Regional Coordinator, communicate through Tadoma, Dominican Republic

In partnership with over 260 schools and organizations worldwide, Perkins works to advance local efforts aimed at increasing educational services for such children in schools. Our partners are based in an array of settings. Many are from organizations developing new programs for students with disabilities, while others are from schools designed for children who are blind, deaf or deafblind. We support community centers and parent groups in establishing outreach programs to families with children who have multiple disabilities. 

With each of these partners, Perkins initially prioritizes developing a foundation for education services by creating model programs. By training staff at model program sites, local agencies are able to expand services to children and families as determined by communities. In some instances, we collaborate with governmental departments, such as ministries of education, to launch pilot projects, formalize new programs or expand our initial work to more locations. 

For any quality of life that extends to adulthood, there must be consistent partnered planning with families and communities. Perkins works with partners to develop programs that provide children and youth with this planning. Exemplary programs creatively connect a child's capacities and interests discovered in education with opportunities in their community. This includes employment, training programs, supported living and/or residential programs. We have worked with many of our partners to create programs for shared housing, as well as employment opportunities for students who are deafblind or blind with additional disabilities.