Maria Vazquez, Argentina

Maria has been working as the educational service coordinator at ACIPDIM (Aasociacion Civil Identidades para personas con discapacidades Multiples) since 2004. She has been a special education professor at Universidad Nacional De Rio Cuarto since 2005. Her responsibilities at ACIPDIM include supervision of educational services, training of staff, transitioning of students to adult life and working with families. At the university, Maria gives courses on special education to students being trained to be future teachers. She has a general special education degree and degree in the education of children with intellectual disabilities.

While at Perkins, Maria would like to focus on all aspects of the education of children with deafblindness and multiple disabilities. She is especially interested in individualized education plans, assessment, communication and working with families.

After completing her six-month studies at Perkins, Maria will resume her responsibilities both at the ACIPDIM and Universidad Nacional De Rio Cuarto.

Sadia Afrose, Bangladesh

Since January 2011, Sadia has been working at “Proyash” Special Needs Institution as the unit leader for children with intellectual disabilities. Her responsibilities include supporting classroom teachers in program design and IEP development. She has a Bachelor's and Master's Degree from the University of Dhaka in the area of intellectual disability. Sadia has been working in the special education field since 2000. Much of her career has been working at the Protobondi Foundation and Center for Services and Information on Disability (CSID).

While at Perkins, Sadia will increase her knowledge and skills in the area of multiple disabilities with special focus on the education of preschool and elementary school age students.

After completion of her studies, Sadia will return to Proyash and resume her position as the unit leader and share her new knowledge and experience in working with children who have visual and additional disabilities.

Arif, Bangladesh

Arif has been working at the Child Sight Foundation (CSF) since 2005. In 2007 he was appointed the Education Officer, responsible for monitoring the implementation of inclusive education of children who are visually impaired. He supervises 20 itinerant teachers and 1 self-help group officer. Arif has a Bachelor's and Master's degree in Social Work from Rajshahi University.

While at Perkins, he will concentrate on education of children who are visually impaired with additional disabilities as the CSF plans to expand its services for children with multiple disabilities in the near future.

After completing his studies at Perkins, Arif will return to CSF and, according to his director, will take charge of the educational services.

Lyudmila Petrova, Bulgaria

While at Perkins, Lyudmila will gain knowledge and skills in the area of early intervention and elementary school age children with multiple disabilities, with a special focus on low vision.

After completing her studies, Lyudmila will return to Varna school and resume her position as teacher of the multi-impaired.

Oriana E. Donoso, Chile

Oriana has been working at the Metropolitan University of Educational Science (UMCE) as a professor since 1991. Her responsibilities have included teaching undergraduate courses in vision and MDVI areas as well as Masters level courses in multiple disabilities including deafblindness. In cooperation with Perkins International’s Latin America region, she has also taught a number of courses in other LA countries besides Chile.

While at Perkins, Oriana will focus on training of professionals in the education of children with visual and additional disabilities as well as providing education and guidance to families.

After completing her six-month studies, Oriana will return UMCE and continue her role as professor in the Dept. of Special Education.

Qu Guiping, China

Guiping has been working at Qingdao School for the Blind since 1988. She was an elementary school classroom teacher until 2002, when she began working with children who have visual and additional disabilities. Guiping has a university degree in Chinese Language and Literature from Qufu Teacher’s University.

While at Perkins, Guiping will increase her knowledge and skills in all aspects of the education of children with multiple disabilities including assessment, curriculum and communication.

After her completing her studies at Perkins, Guiping will return to Qingdao School and continue teaching and researching in the areas of multiple disabilities.

Millicent Ayitey, Ghana

Millicent has been working at the Akropong School for the Blind since 2009. Her responsibilities involve teaching children who are visually impaired with additional disabilities. She has a Bachelor's Degree in Special Education from University of Winneba and a degree in English language from the Presbyterian College.

While at Perkins, Millicent will gain additional knowledge and skills in the education of children with visual and additional disabilities with emphasis on behavior management.

After completing her studies at Perkins, Millicent will return to the Akropong School for the Blind and resume her current position as teacher of children with multiple disabilities and provide inservice to her colleagues as well as work with families of children with multiple disabilities.

Lissett Rivas, Guatemala

Lissett has been working at two of the branch centers of Fundal since 2007. She was an early interventionist in 2007, classroom teacher in 2008 and since 2009 she has been the Education Director of Fundal Huehuetenango. Although Lissett is a licensed physical therapist, she has been motivated to work as a classroom teacher with children who are deafblind or blind with additional disabilities. Her current responsibilities include training teachers, supervising the implementation of appropriate curriculum, relationships with parents and numerous other responsibilities as the education director.

While at Perkins, Lissett will concentrate on the education of students who are deafblind and blind with additional disabilities with special emphasis on assessment, teaching strategies and working with families. Lissett also wants to gain additional knowledge in techniques of physical therapy offered at Perkins.

After completing her studies at Perkins, she will return to her current position at Fundal and continue to provide services to MDVI children in the western part of Guatemala.

Jeeva Muthusamy, India

Since 2006, Jeeva has been working at the Vision Center of Vidya Sagar, a cross-disabilities education and rehabilitation center. Her responsibilities include intervening and assessment of children with visual and additional disabilities, working with families, developing educational goals and teaching in the personnel prep. program. Jeeva has a Bachelor's degree in vision as well as a Master's in Botany.

While at Perkins, she will focus on the education of children with multiple disabilities including deafblindness. She is especially interested in increasing her knowledge and skills in communication, curriculum development, behavior management and personnel preparation.

After completing her studies at Perkins, Jeeva will return to Vidya Sagar and resume her position at the Vision Center.

Mary Maragia, Kenya

Mary has been working as a teacher at the Kilimani Primary School, Deafblind Unit since September 2006. She has worked as interpreter from 2008-2010 and teacher of the deaf from 2006-2008. Mary has a Bachelor's Degree from Kenyatta University in the education of the deaf and sports.

While at Perkins, Mary will increase her skills and knowledge in all aspects of deafblind education with special emphasis on program design, assessment, adaptive physical education and sensory motor integration.

After completing her studies, Mary will return to Kilimani Deafblind Unit. She will also share her knowledge with future teachers through external lecturing at KISE.

Tatjana Medved, Serbia

Tatjana has been working at the School for Visually Impaired Pupils in Zemun since 2002. Her responsibilities include working with students who are visually impaired with additional disabilities, inclusion and early intervention services. Tatjana has a degree in visual impairment from the Special Education Faculty of Belgrade University.

While at Perkins, she will focus on all aspects of the education of children who are visually impaired with additional disabilities, ages 0-6. She wishes to increase her knowledge and skills on assessment, provision of early intervention and strategies for inclusion as well as working with families.

After completing her studies in the ELP, Tatjana will return to Serbia and resume her position as the early intervention and inclusion specialist.

Fiona Parker, South Africa

Fiona has been working as an occupational therapist at the Arthur Blaxall School since 2009. Her responsibilities include evaluating of the OT needs of all students and providing appropriate therapy; presenting training to staff; and supporting students who are attending public schools. Fiona has a Bachelor's degree in Occupational Therapy.

While at Perkins, she will gain more experience working with students who are visually impaired with additional disabilities. She would like to focus especially on assessment, sensory motor integration and working with families.

When she returns to South Africa, Fiona will share her knowledge and skills with a wider range of students and staff as her school plans to become a full service program – accepting children with a wide variety of disabilities.

Rajabu Mtunge, Tanzania

Rajabu has been working at the Patandi Teachers College of Special Needs since 2009. Beginning in September 2010 he has become a full-time tutor in this teacher preparation college. Rajabu has an “ordinary teacher” diploma; a diploma in teacher of special needs at Patandi College and a Bachelor’s Degree in education, majoring in language from Tumaini University.

While at Perkins, Rajabu will focus on the education of children with multiple disabilities with special emphasis on deafblindness. He would like to increase his knowledge and skills in order to develop college level courses to instruct future special education teachers at Patandi College.

After completing his studies at Perkins, Rajabu is planning to return to Tanzania and teach at the Patandi Teachers College of Special Needs.