Perkins Strategic Plan 2005-2010

Perkins helps over 90,000 people in the United States and in 61 developing countries reach for their greatest independence. Yet today many babies and public school students do not receive the services they need.

70% of U.S. citizens who are blind are unemployed or under-employed. 85% of children with disabilities in developing countries do not have access to education. In 25 years, the number of people who are blind in the U.S. is predicted to double, largely because our population is aging.

Perkins launched a strategic planning process that involves all facets of the Perkins family - students, alumni, parents, staff, trustees, colleagues, volunteers, donors and community leaders. We are developing a plan of action. In the next five years, Perkins will:

Prepare our students to have the skills for a changing and competitive environment.

• Revise and expand the curriculum to help students compete.
• Ensure that our teachers and students have access to the best technology.
• Recruit and retain the highest quality staff.
• Pilot an innovative transition program to help reverse the 70% unemployment trend for people who are blind.

Reach babies, students and elders who are not receiving adequate services.

• Train over 2,000 teachers.
• Widen outreach to hundreds more public school students and toddlers.
• Expand Perkins Braille & Talking Book Library services by 30% to help over 20,000 people.
• Develop greater services to help elders adjust to vision loss and maintain their independence.

Expand internationally.

• Expand programs in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America where we currently help children through education, teacher training and parent organizations.
• Introduce services in other developing countries.
• Increase distribution of and access to the Perkins Brailler.

Build partnerships with advocates, donors and volunteers.

• Expand volunteer involvement at all levels.
• Partner with students, parents, families and others to increase advocacy.
• Grow individual and institutional philanthropy.
• Ensure that every dollar is invested wisely by maximizing operating efficiency.

The complete Perkins Strategic Plan 2005-2010 is available in PDF format using Adobe Acrobat, as well as in a Text-only version. Perkins 2005-2010 Strategic Plan, Seeing Possibilities, is built on our strengths and past successes. It looks to the future and seeks to address the issues critical for people who are blind or deafblind, with or without additional disabilities, in order to lead productive, meaningful lives.

We invite you to join Perkins as we plan for the future. Please contact Steven.Rothstein2010@Perkins.org or Jan.Spitz2010@Perkins.org to share your own vision for Perkins next five years.