Asia

There are more than 2.4 million people who are blind in Asia. This group represents 57 percent of the world's total blind population. Throughout the region, there are 690,000 children who are blind. On average worldwide, less than 10 percent of these children currently have educational opportunities. If a child is blind with additional impairments, or deafblind, the chance to attend school is significantly less. Perkins partners with local schools and agencies in Asia to provide educational opportunities to these children. 

Perkins' partners in Asia are establishing landmark programs and developing innovative services for children and their families. We develop programs to serve these children at the village, town, state, and national level. We provide training to teachers, facilitate educational seminars for professionals, support parent groups, and expand outreach services for children in need. 

Today, our partnerships support more than 60 projects in ten countries in Asia, directly touching the lives of nearly 6,500 children, parents, and teachers each year. Countries that are home to our partners include Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam. 

For more information please contact Deborah Gleason, Asia/Pacific Regional Coordinator, at Deborah.Gleason@Perkins.org, or Kirk Horton, Perkins Regional Representative in Thailand, at panna@mozart.inet.co.th. 

Learn more about our programs in Asia:

• Expanding Educational Opportunities
• Building Local Expertise
• Supporting Parents
• Influencing Policies
• Producing and Translating Materials
• Expanding Access to Braille Literacy