Supporting Parents

Fundamental to our international work is support and education for family members on visual impairment and multiple disabilities. Many parents are at a loss as to how to communicate with their child when they learn she or he cannot speak, see or hear. A lack of services in their community can compound feelings of isolation.

To bring parents together to support one another and exchange experiences, Perkins prioritizes the empowerment of parent groups.

A group of students crowd in for a photo, Armenia

We regularly develop parent-training goals for each project and have sponsored both regional and national parent meetings. In more than 80 percent of our partner programs, Perkins provides organizational assistance to parent groups that support families with children in need and advocate for changes in disability, education and health policies.

More than 30 countries now have parent organizations, which enable parents to share experiences and join voices in advocating for services, including:

Parents are often the strongest advocates for the rights of children with disabilities. Our support for parent organizations encompasses education and advocacy initiatives. These efforts involve collaborating with government officials to develop programs that support children and families and to implement appropriate health and education policies. The combined efforts of parent groups and ministries have helped to ensure long-lasting results in numerous communities.