For 30 years, our work in Indonesia has focused on the intersection of school, family, community, and residential care. Working side by side with local Indonesian partners, we are building a supportive, local, child-focused system to increase access and quality of education for children with multiple disabilities, so that all children can find their place in the world.
In Indonesia, primary age children with disabilities are nearly 11 times more likely to be out of school. As in many other countries, children with multiple disabilities and visual impairment are among the most disadvantaged and vulnerable to be excluded from quality of education.
We work with a network of local partners – schools, families, community-based programs, orphanages, hospitals, universities, and government to bring life-changing education to children with multiple disabilities and visual impairment in places where there is a great need, but often limited resources.
Discover how we are transforming education in Indonesia
We meet children wherever they are and support them on their journey to education – which 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.
Children with multiple disabilities and visual impairment rely on adults with the commitment and special skills to help them learn. Working with partners, we establish systems of support that set children on a path to education and empower families to support their learning.
Perkins works with families, educators and educational leaders, government officials across ministries and spanning local to national levels, local community members, health care providers, residential care providers and related NGOs to make sure every child is included.
Indonesia, like all countries in the world, benefits from Centers of Excellence in education and services for children with disabilities. Centers of excellence elevate national networks – not only are best practices followed, best practices are taught to others.
We support our partners through a collaborative and expert quality indicator process, based upon evidence-based, locally responsive and agreed upon standards, creating a roadmap for achieving excellence.
Deborah Gleason Director, Asia and Pacific Region. Perkins School for the Blind“Teachers in Indonesia are changing their beliefs about what is possible for children with multiple disabilities, they’re seeing them as regular kids who can learn and thrive just like their other students.”
Learn about Dena, a girl with disabilities, and how we helped her access an education in her remote village in Indonesia.
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