Children who are blind, visually impaired or deafblind will benefit from a comprehensive evaluation conducted by experts at Perkins School for the Blind. We understand their unique learning needs and our independent evaluations can help their educational team better understand these needs, too.
Our independent evaluations can provide insight into your child’s educational programming needs. Formally evaluating a child’s strengths and needs allows teachers and parents to develop individualized education programs that provide the best learning experiences for each student. Our experts can assess a specific area of development, such as cognition, communication, motor or vision-related compensatory skills or provide a comprehensive evaluation in several areas. This approach allows evaluations to be customized. Perkins’ assessment areas include:
Complete a Perkins evaluation form. Choose the form that’s most appropriate for your child based on his/her age and diagnosis. The CVI Educational Assessment can be requested in addition to another evaluation, as well.
Please submit an online Evaluation Form, located below.
In addition, please gather all educational, clinical, related services and medical records pertaining to your child. Refer to the Required Paperwork Checklist for all necessary application materials.
Once your completed application is received, Perkins’ evaluation team will review the submitted materials and student profile. Next, the team will determine if they can provide an appropriate, meaningful evaluation for your student that will address your questions and concerns. Then, you will be contacted with feedback and recommendations.
The length of the on-campus evaluation will vary per student, based on the number of evaluation areas and the student’s level of participation. The student will work individually with evaluators – and parents may also participate in interviews. After direct assessment, evaluators meet to exchange information regarding evaluation results and recommendations. After this meeting you will receive initial feedback via a phone call and will then receive a written report approximately eight weeks later.
The Early Learning Center Evaluation is used for preschool and kindergarten-aged students with visual impairment.
The Lower School Evaluation is used for elementary through junior high- aged students with visual impairment.
The Secondary Evaluation is used for high school and older students with visual impairment.
The Deafblind Evaluation is used for students ages preschool and up with a deafblind diagnosis.
The Cortical/Cerebral Visual Impairment (CVI) Educational Assessment can be requested for students ages preschool and up including those with ocular visual impairments, hearing loss and multiple disabilities.
Perkins School for the Blind
Perkins is proud of our reputation as an educational leader of the visually impaired. We’re also proud of our proven track record of providing thorough, effective evaluation services for more than 30 years, which includes:
Formally evaluating a child’s strengths and needs allows teachers and parents to develop individualized education programs that provide the best learning experiences for each student. Our experts can assess a specific area of development, such as cognition, communication, motor or vision-related compensatory skills, or provide a comprehensive evaluation in several areas. This approach allows evaluations to be customized.
If you are not sure which form is appropriate or if you would like to have a Cortical/Cerebral Visual Impairment (CVI) Educational Assessment in addition to another evaluation, please contact us for more information.
The evaluation takes one to two days to complete on the Perkins campus.
We use a team approach, which includes teachers and related service professionals who work directly with the students enrolled in one of our on-campus programs. Our evaluation teams have unparalleled knowledge of and experience with students who are blind, visually impaired or deafblind, including those with additional disabilities.
After the evaluation is completed, Perkins will provide a comprehensive evaluation report with recommendations for the student’s educational program and community environment.
Perkins’ assessment areas include:
No. All children and young adults, ages 3-21, who are blind, visually impaired or deafblind, including those with additional disabilities, are eligible for evaluation services at Perkins.
As the parent of a son or daughter with special needs, you have the right to an independent educational evaluation for your child, as allowed under the federal special education law Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). You can read detailed descriptions of your parental rights in “A Parent’s Guide to Special Education,” a free online publication produced by the Massachusetts Department of Education and The Federation for Children with Special Needs. If you reside outside of Massachusetts, the Center for Parent Information and Resources has a helpful guide. In addition, our staff will be happy to answer any questions or concerns you may have about your parental safeguards.
Yes! We offer independent post-evaluation consulting to provide additional input and strategies for your child. This service is designed to help you clearly understand your child’s strengths and challenges, customize strategies and techniques for further success and analyze areas of concern to develop additional intervention and progress monitoring.
CVI is the leading cause of blindness in children. Hundreds of thousands who have it aren’t getting the help they need.
Have questions about independent evaluations from Perkins? We’re available to help you find the answers you need.
