Children with visual impairment and multiple disabilities rely on adults with the commitment and special skills to help them learn. Perkins School for the Blind works with families, teachers, schools, doctors, hospitals, community leaders, universities and governments to make education accessible to all children—wherever they are and whatever their ability. Together with local collaborators, Perkins is planning to expand current deep impact in a few sites to national-level transformation in 18 countries by 2030. Our goal is to rebuild a world that includes the 240 million children with disabilities, everywhere, from the start.
Perkins believes every child can learn, and we can show you how.
More than 240 million children live with disabilities around the world. Perkins’ International programs change the landscape of education services to fit children, helping them learn and thrive. In partnership with governments and civil society, we set new standards for what is possible—for children with multiple disabilities and for our world.
Supporting children to learn
For a child with multiple disabilities, the journey to education may begin at home, in an orphanage, in a hospital, in a community program or at school. Perkins starts where children are so that no child is invisible or excluded.
For 100 years, Perkins has been training leaders and educators who change the world for children in almost 100 countries. We provide a wide range of opportunities for professionals and family members to learn how to help children unlock opportunities.
For a child with multiple disabilities to learn and thrive, families, schools, hospitals, communities and governments must all work together. Perkins sets the standards and builds the networks that sustain and strengthen teaching, learning and community life.
240 millionThere are 240 million children with disabilities around the world.
100 yearsWe opened our campus to train global educators in 1920.
100 countriesOur graduates and partners hail from every region of the world.
Making a difference globally.
Thanh Trinh Thi ThuResearcher at the National Center for Special Education, at The Vietnam Institute of Educational Sciences, ELP graduate – Class of 2020
“At Perkins, the belief is all children can learn, no matter their disability.”
Close to home and around the globe, Perkins’ International programs are making a difference for children with visual impairments and multiple disabilities.
Perkins Project Pixan is building a foundation so that every child in Mexico has access to education that is both accessible and adapted for their needs.
In Serbia and Croatia, Perkins meets children where they are and provides access to quality education through our network of partner organizations, educators and parents.
Perkins in Armenia creates partnerships at all levels of the education system – with schools, families, government, NGO’s, orphanages, community based programs, university, and support centers for inclusion.
With our partners, Perkins is guiding the existing network in Jerusalem towards a national standard that supports children with multiple disabilities to learn and thrive.
Close to home and around the globe, Perkins’ International programs are making a difference for children with visual impairments and multiple disabilities.
Beatriz wraps her arms around Paris
Mexico
Perkins Project Pixan is building a foundation so that every child in Mexico has access to education that is both accessible and adapted for their needs.
Perkins in Armenia creates partnerships at all levels of the education system – with schools, families, government, NGO’s, orphanages, community based programs, university, and support centers for inclusion.
In Serbia and Croatia, Perkins meets children where they are and provides access to quality education through our network of partner organizations, educators and parents.
In Argentina, Perkins is supporting the development of public schools and early childcare centers in educating children who are visually impaired with multiple disabilities.
With our partners, Perkins is guiding the existing network in Jerusalem towards a national standard that supports children with multiple disabilities to learn and thrive.
With our partners, Perkins is promoting quality education to children with multiple disabilities by improving schools, educating teachers, and strengthening practices nationwide.
Perkins is working in partnership with public schools to strengthen the quality of adaptive, inclusive education—and access to such education for every child in Brazil.
Perkins is unlocking the power of parents in the Philippines to help build inclusive communities for children with vision impairment and multiple disabilities.
On September 17, 2022, Daniela Gissara, Assistant Director of International Partnerships, Perkins School for the Blind, spoke at the United Nations Transforming Education Summit as part of the Solutions Day.