Graduates
Meet our ELP alumni
Graduates of the Educational Leadership Program (ELP) achieve amazing things. Together they form a global network of elite educators dedicated to improving the lives of children with visual impairment.
Graduates
Graduates of the Educational Leadership Program (ELP) achieve amazing things. Together they form a global network of elite educators dedicated to improving the lives of children with visual impairment.
Weningsih is an education specialist with Perkins International’s Asia/Pacific Program. She provides consultation and technical assistance to partners who serve children who are visually impaired, deafblind and have multiple disabilities. She coordinates training and develops regional plans in collaboration with Asia/Pacific team and support of Regional Director, with the ultimate goal of implementing quality and sustainable services for children and their families in Indonesia and Malaysia.
Indonesia (Origin/Residence)
Asia and the Pacific
Administration and Management
Behavior
Communication
Curriculum
Daily Living Skills
Early Education
Inclusion
Parenting and Family Support
Teaching MDVI/DB
ELP Class of 2002
I am very lucky to have lots of great mentors through the ELP, who continue helping my professional development.
Masfufah is a principal at SLB Matahati, the Matahati School for Multiple Disabilities and Visual Impairment/Deafblind.
Indonesia (Origin/Residence)
Asia and the Pacific
Fundraising
Teaching MDVI/DB
ELP Class of 2010
Learn together, learn from each other.
Wilson A. Abugri is the Unit Head of Unit for the Blind in Cape Coast School for the Deaf/Blind.
Ghana (Origin/Residence)
Africa
Administration and Management
Advocacy
Assessment
Braille
Communication
Curriculum
Literacy
Low Vision
Recreation and Leisure/Play Skills
Teacher Training
Teaching MDVI/DB
ELP Class of 2019
My heart’s desire is to establish, manage and sustain a deafblind center at Cape Coast School for the Deaf and Blind.
Moatasem is licensed and registered occupational therapist.
Israel (Origin/Residence)
Middle East and North Africa
Advocacy
Assessment
Assistive Technology
Behavior
Communication
Consulting
Daily Living Skills
Early Education
Fine and Gross Motor Skills
Inclusion
Low Vision
Recreation and Leisure/Play Skills
Sensory Development
Teacher Training
Teaching MDVI/DB
ELP Class of 2019
My mission is to improve the quality of education for students with multiple disabilities and visual impairments, including deafblindness, in the Israeli and Palestinian communities.
Nina is a teacher at the Demonstration School for the Deaf (Centre for Deafblind Children) in Mampong, Ghana. She has been a teacher of the deafblind, blind and visually impaired for over sixteen years. She has a vast experience in working with children of varied age groups, and has written articles for the DbI Review Magazine. She is also a member of the Good Start early intervention team.
Ghana (Origin/Residence)
Africa
Teacher Training
Teaching MDVI/DB
ELP Class of 2006
Love, patience and time used in educating and training persons with deafblindness go a long way toward helping them achieve their fullest potential in life.
Ana Lilia is a special educator at the Ministry of Education in Costa Rica, where she has worked for fifteen years with students up to age thirteen. She is working hard to improve the quality of life of people with disabilities and their families, bringing opportunities to develop skills and create environments full of respect, equality, and rights for all members of society in her country.
Costa Rica (Origin/Residence)
Latin America and the Caribbean
ELP Class of 2015
My professional experience over the nine months I was at Perkins made me realize how beautiful being a special education teacher is.
Retired but still active in the field, Isabel continues to provide teacher trainings and consultations related to her area of expertise. In 2011, Perkins awarded her the prestigious Anne Sullivan Macy Medal for outstanding service to the deafblind community.
Portugal (Origin/Residence)
Latin America and the Caribbean
Academics/Functional Academics
Assessment
Communication
Curriculum
Early Education
Inclusion
Parenting and Family Support
Sensory Development
ELP Class of 1991
The sky is the limit when your heart is in it!
Veronica works as the coordinator of the Asociacion Civil Identidades Para Personas con Discapacidad Multiple (ACIPDIM), a nongovernmental organization created by parents and professionals that offers educational services for students of all ages with multiple disabilities and deafblidness. She is also a professor and teacher trainer at the National University of Rio Cuarto.
Argentina (Origin/Residence)
Latin America and the Caribbean
Assistive Technology
Early Education
Inclusion
Teacher Training
ELP Class of 2016
The ELP allows us to learn and share with people from around the world, and then return to our country to improve the quality of life of our students and their families.
Mirla is a community outreach coordinator at Universidad Central de Chile. She is a lecturer, now training other teacher and parents around her country.
Chile (Origin/Residence)
Latin America and the Caribbean
Academics/Functional Academics
Administration and Management
Assessment
Assistive Technology
Behavior
Communication
Curriculum
Daily Living Skills
Early Education
Fine and Gross Motor Skills
Inclusion
Parenting and Family Support
Teacher Training
Teaching MDVI/DB
ELP Class of 2015
I believe in inclusion and the value of diversity.
Samir is an educator of children with deafblindness and multiple disabilities at Nida Society. As the assistant manager of the deafblind unit, part of his responsibilities include supervising and training teachers, assessing students and developing IEPs.
Egypt (Origin/Residence)
Middle East and North Africa
Administration and Management
Behavior
Curriculum
Daily Living Skills
Early Education
Fine and Gross Motor Skills
Low Vision
Orientation and Mobility
Parenting and Family Support
Social Skills
Teacher Training
Teaching MDVI/DB
Transition Planning
Vocational Skills
ELP Class of 2018
Everything I learnt at Perkins, I will share it with my colleagues to help children in Egypt.
Millicent is a teacher at the Akropong School for the Blind in Ghana. She has been a teacher of the deafblind, MDVI, blind and visually impaired for over six years. She is also a member of her the Good Start early intervention team.
Ghana (Origin/Residence)
Africa
Teaching MDVI/DB
ELP Class of 2012
Every child is happy when he feels loved.
Carolina is a Speech and Language Pathologist at Amapolas Special School in Chile. Her expertise is to work with student with severe disabilities and significant cognitive, physical and social needs.
Chile (Origin/Residence)
Latin America and the Caribbean
Assessment
Assistive Technology
Communication
Daily Living Skills
Inclusion
Social Skills
ELP Class of 2018
As I teach my students communication skills, I can improve the quality of their lives by helping them express themselves.
Cornelia is an associate professor at the State Pedagogical University, where she teaches future special educators and a speech therapist in Chisinau. She earned her doctorate degree in in special psychology in 2003 and is currently working toward a second PhD in special pedagogy. Cornelia has also published a textbook, worked as a researcher on inclusive education projects with colleagues from Spain, Belarus and Ukraine, and founded VITA – a nongovernmental organization that provides mental health consultations and services.
Republic of Moldova (Origin/Residence)
Europe and Eurasia
Academics/Functional Academics
Administration and Management
Communication
Curriculum
Inclusion
Low Vision
Sensory Development
Teacher Training
Teaching MDVI/DB
ELP Class of 2016
My study at Perkins has a great scientific and practical significance for Moldova.
In addition to her responsibilities as the Educational Program Coordinator at Mali Dom, a center for MDVI children in Croatia, Martina is a PhD student in language and cognitive neuroscience at the University of Zagreb.
Croatia (Origin/Residence)
Europe and Eurasia
Academics/Functional Academics
Administration and Management
Assessment
Assistive Technology
Communication
Curriculum
Teaching MDVI/DB
ELP Class of 2009
I’ve learned so much on a professional and personal level thanks to the ELP. We are part of a big family working together to empower others.
Rebecca is a training specialist and education program specialist at Research Triangle Institute International in Kenya.
Kenya (Origin/Residence)
Africa
Academics/Functional Academics
Administration and Management
Advocacy
Assessment
Braille
Communication
Curriculum
Daily Living Skills
Early Education
Inclusion
Literacy
Sensory Development
Teacher Training
Teaching MDVI/DB
ELP Class of 2014
Knowledge without follow-through is worse than no knowledge. Henry C. Bukowski
Chrissie is a Lecturer at Montfort Special Needs Education College in Malawi. Her mission and role are to train educators so they can better teach children with deafblindness.
Malawi (Origin/Residence)
Africa
Braille
Daily Living Skills
Fine and Gross Motor Skills
Teacher Training
Teaching MDVI/DB
ELP Class of 2018
I am so honored to by part of this family. I am determined to share with my colleagues all what I learnt at Perkins.
Maria teaches at Mackenzie Presbyterian University in Sao Paulo, Brazil. In 2011, Perkins awarded her the prestigious Anne Sullivan Macy Medal for outstanding service to the deafblind community.
Brazil (Origin/Residence)
Latin America and the Caribbean
Academics/Functional Academics
Administration and Management
Assessment
Assistive Technology
Communication
Curriculum
Inclusion
Low Vision
Sensory Development
Teaching MDVI/DB
Transition Planning
ELP Class of 2001
As an ELP graduate I now view the world differently. My experience has enabled me to find new opportunities to work with students with MDVI, their families and teachers.
Perla works as coordinator of Educational Inclusion at the Franciscan Institute for people with visual impairment.
Honduras (Origin/Residence)
Latin America and the Caribbean
Teaching MDVI/DB
ELP Class of 2019
The Educational Leadership Program has been the best learning opportunity of my life. Now I have the knowledge to establish the first program for children with multiple disabilities and deafblindness in my country.
Alburga is the assistant director and coordinator of the Deafblind Unit at the Jeevan Jyoti Institute for the Disabled.
India (Origin/Residence)
Asia and the Pacific
ELP Class of 2014
Life has many great options, but you don’t have to pick what seems to be the best. Just pick what makes you happy and it will be the best.
Dede is a Teacher Trainer for the Indonesian Ministry of Education and they work in partnership with Perkins International Academy to provide training all over the country.
Indonesia (Origin/Residence)
Asia and the Pacific
Assessment
Behavior
Early Education
Inclusion
Teacher Training
Teaching MDVI/DB
ELP Class of 2018
The ELP program has been important to me. It gave me the opportunity to learn from experts so I can share it all to my colleagues in Indonesia.
Stalin teaches children with deafblindness at the National Institute for Empowerment of Persons with Multiple Disabilities. He is also a researcher and teacher trainer.
India (Origin/Residence)
Asia and the Pacific
Academics/Functional Academics
Administration and Management
Communication
Curriculum
Low Vision
Teacher Training
Teaching MDVI/DB
ELP Class of 2017
Every day is a new beginning. Past experiences are the best guide.
Ani works as a speech language pathologist, teacher of the visually impaired and resource teacher at the Specialized Children’s home of Kharberd. She has earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in pedagogy and psychology at the Armenian State Pedagogical University after Kh.Abovyan.
Armenia (Origin/Residence)
Europe and Eurasia
Academics/Functional Academics
Assessment
Assistive Technology
Behavior
Braille
Communication
Curriculum
Daily Living Skills
Early Education
Fine and Gross Motor Skills
Inclusion
Low Vision
Music Therapy
Orientation and Mobility
Parenting and Family Support
Pedagogy and Psychology of Special Education
Psychology/Counseling
Recreation and Leisure/Play Skills
Sensory Development
Social Skills
Teacher Training
Teaching MDVI/DB
Transition Planning
Vocational Skills
ELP Class of 2015
When you see a good move, look for a better one.
Ruchi is the Cofounder and Director of the Sankalp Pediatric Rehabilitation Center in India. Ruchi’s specialties include parent training, early intervention, early screening and assessment of high-risk deliveries, and neurodevelopmental therapy.
India (Origin/Residence)
Asia and the Pacific
Academics/Functional Academics
Administration and Management
Assessment
Behavior
Communication
Daily Living Skills
Early Education
Fine and Gross Motor Skills
Inclusion
Low Vision
Orientation and Mobility
Parenting and Family Support
Psychology/Counseling
Recreation and Leisure/Play Skills
Sensory Development
Social Skills
Teacher Training
Teaching MDVI/DB
Transition Planning
ELP Class of 2013
Where there is a will, there is always a way.
Oriana is a professor and the deputy coordinator of the master’s program in special education with multiple needs at the Metropolitan University of Educational Sciences (Universidad Metropolitana de Ciencias de la Educacian, or UMCE) in Santiago, Chile. She has been working in the field since 1981, and helped start the master’s program for teachers of the blind with multiple disabilities at UMCE in 2000.
Chile (Origin/Residence)
Latin America and the Caribbean
Academics/Functional Academics
Administration and Management
Braille
Communication
Curriculum
Inclusion
Low Vision
Psychology/Counseling
Teacher Training
Transition Planning
Vocational Skills
ELP Class of 2011
Working with students with multiple educational needs and training teachers in this area has given meaning to my life.
Anna holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English Philology from the Southern Federal University in Rostov-on-Don, Russia. She works at the Rostov Special Boarding School No. 38 as an English teacher to children ages 8-19 years of age. She also conducts lessons to children with MDVI at their homes for those unable to attend school due to their disabilities.
Russia (Origin/Residence)
Europe and Eurasia
Assessment
Braille
Communication
Inclusion
Low Vision
Teaching MDVI/DB
ELP Class of 2019
Perkins is like a lighthouse that guides us towards being more successful teachers in supporting children with MDVI to reach their full potential.
Edith teaches children with deafblindness at Uhuru Mchanganyiko Primary School. She also has experience training community workers for home-based educational programs. She is most proud when she sees her students living independently after school.
Tanzania (Origin/Residence)
Africa
Advocacy
Assessment
Communication
Daily Living Skills
Early Education
Inclusion
Orientation and Mobility
Parenting and Family Support
Psychology/Counseling
Social Skills
Teacher Training
Teaching MDVI/DB
Transition Planning
Vocational Skills
ELP Class of 2017
The ELP is very important to me and I am proud to be part of it.
Claxton is from Antigua and Barbuda and lives in New York. He works as a Diplomat of the Permanent Mission of Antigua and Barbuda to the United Nations. He specializes in academics, administration and management, assistive technology, braille and low vision.
Antigua and Barbuda (Origin) United States (Residence)
Latin America and the Caribbean
Academics/Functional Academics
Administration and Management
Assistive Technology
Braille
Low Vision
ELP Class of 2015
Your best is always good enough, so give your best.
Mai is a special educator at Nida Society. She has a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a post-graduate diploma in psychology services. Mai decided to become a special educator after first meeting a deafblind child. The experience changed her thinking, personality and career.
Egypt (Origin/Residence)
Middle East and North Africa
Behavior
Communication
Daily Living Skills
Early Education
Fine and Gross Motor Skills
Parenting and Family Support
Psychology/Counseling
Recreation and Leisure/Play Skills
Teacher Training
Teaching MDVI/DB
ELP Class of 2016
One of my happiest moments is when I help children learn, help them do something on their own and improve their lives.
Enock is the Head Teacher at the Kuja Unit for the Deafblind in Rongo. He has provided training courses about Kenyan Sign Language and has a vast experience repairing braille machines all over the country.
Kenya (Origin/Residence)
Africa
Administration and Management
Assessment
Braille
Communication
Low Vision
Orientation and Mobility
Teacher Training
Teaching MDVI/DB
Vocational Skills
ELP Class of 2018
I strive to give children with disabilities the best possible services in Kenya. They should not be left behind because they have a disability.
Estefana is a Special Education Teacher at Helen Keller National Education Center in Costa Rica. She has a rich experience providing home-based services to indigenous populations with disability across the country.
Costa Rica (Origin/Residence)
Latin America and the Caribbean
Academics/Functional Academics
Braille
Daily Living Skills
Inclusion
Low Vision
Social Skills
Teaching MDVI/DB
ELP Class of 2018
My mission to help children takes me everywhere. It requires dedication to improve the quality of their lives.
Amal is the chairperson of the board of Hope City Foundation and works as a speech therapist and habilitation consultant for deafblind students at Nida Society, an Egyptian nonprofit that provides early intervention services to deaf and deafblind children. She has translated the Callier-Azusa Scale, an assessment tool for deafblind children, into Arabic and advocates for the educational rights of deafblind people and those with multiple disabilities.
Egypt (Origin/Residence)
Middle East and North Africa
ELP Class of 2015
Dreams become reality when intentions become action.
Fahmidah is a Manager at Healthy Communities and her roles include managing and implementing health programs, training, curriculum development, and awareness-raising programs for Special Olympics South Africa.
South Africa (Origin/Residence)
Africa
Academics/Functional Academics
Administration and Management
Advocacy
Assessment
Behavior
Braille
Curriculum
Daily Living Skills
Early Education
Fine and Gross Motor Skills
Fundraising
Inclusion
Orientation and Mobility
Parenting and Family Support
Recreation and Leisure/Play Skills
Sensory Development
Sex Education
Social Skills
Teacher Training
Transition Planning
ELP Class of 2013
When attitudes are changed, lives are changed too.
Graciela is a former professor of visual impairment and deafness at the National University of Cordoba and a former professor of special education management at the Catholic University of Cordoba, both in Argentina. For more than 20 years she worked to improve the education and quality of life for children who are blind, deafblind and have multiple disabilities in Latin America & the Caribbean.
Argentina (Origin/Residence)
Latin America and the Caribbean
Administration and Management
Braille
Curriculum
Inclusion
Parenting and Family Support
ELP Class of 1984
Learning occurs when you have an open mind and share your knowledge with others.
Eric has worked as an educator at Bartimea School since 2007. He started his career as a teacher in 2000 by teaching adults who became blind at a later stage of their lives.
South Africa (Origin/Residence)
Africa
Academics/Functional Academics
Administration and Management
Advocacy
Braille
Daily Living Skills
Fine and Gross Motor Skills
Inclusion
Literacy
Recreation and Leisure/Play Skills
Sensory Development
Sex Education
Social Skills
Teacher Training
Vocational Skills
ELP Class of 2014
Days will never be the same.
Mei is a teacher at Shanghai School for the Blind.
China (Origin/Residence)
Asia and the Pacific
Academics/Functional Academics
Assessment
Curriculum
Daily Living Skills
Inclusion
Parenting and Family Support
Psychology/Counseling
Recreation and Leisure/Play Skills
Teacher Training
Teaching MDVI/DB
Vocational Skills
ELP Class of 2011
To be upset about what you don’t have is to waste what you do have.
Lindon is an itinerant teacher of children with multiple disabilities and visual impairment at the St. Lucia Blind Welfare Association. He earned his associates degree in teacher education from the University of the West Indies and is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education from Ashworth College.
St. Lucia (Origin/Residence)
Latin America and the Caribbean
Assistive Technology
Fine and Gross Motor Skills
Fundraising
Inclusion
Low Vision
Social Skills
Teaching MDVI/DB
ELP Class of 2016
I am so appreciative for the training and for the opportunity to help my students, community and by extension my country.
Basem is a registered clinical psychologist at the University of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates. He is certified by the Dutch Institute for Psychologists in Child Guided Strategies for children with deafblindness and multiple disabilities (Van Dijk approach).
Egypt (Origin) United Arab Emirates (Residence)
Middle East and North Africa
Assessment
Assistive Technology
Communication
Curriculum
Early Education
Fine and Gross Motor Skills
Low Vision
Psychology/Counseling
Sensory Development
Teacher Training
ELP Class of 2009
Every moment is a teachable moment.
Benita is a behavior counselor for children with deafblindness, low vision and multiple disabilities at the Olga Estrella Resource Center for the Visually Impaired. She studied academic orientation at the University of Santo Domingo UASD.
Dominican Republic (Origin/Residence)
Latin America and the Caribbean
Daily Living Skills
Fine and Gross Motor Skills
Inclusion
Orientation and Mobility
Parenting and Family Support
Pedagogy and Psychology of Special Education
Psychology/Counseling
Teacher Training
ELP Class of 2017
You can’t give what you don’t have. With knowledge many things can be done to help the most vulnerable.
Carmen is an Educational Program Manager at FUNDAL (Fundacian guatemalteca para ni_os con sordoceguera Alex, the Guatemalan Foundation for Children with Deafblindness).
Guatemala (Origin/Residence)
Latin America and the Caribbean
Academics/Functional Academics
Advocacy
Behavior
Communication
Daily Living Skills
Early Education
Fundraising
Inclusion
Recreation and Leisure/Play Skills
Teaching MDVI/DB
ELP Class of 2001
My ELP experience confirmed what I wanted to do for the rest of my life _ educate children with visual impairments.
Burcu is a visual impairment specialist at the Ümit Kaplan Special Education Vocational Training Center and has extensive experience in the special education field.
Turkey (Origin/Residence)
Europe and Eurasia
Academics/Functional Academics
Braille
Curriculum
Vocational Skills
ELP Class of 2017
The knowledge I have learned is very important to help children with disabilities in my country. Thank you Perkins!
Li is a teacher at Taiyuan School for the Blind with a love for special education. She graduated from Nanjing School for Special Education, majoring in blindness education. Li also earned her master’s degree in education from Beijing Normal University.
China (Origin/Residence)
Asia and the Pacific
Academics/Functional Academics
Advocacy
Braille
Curriculum
Literacy
Low Vision
Parenting and Family Support
Teacher Training
ELP Class of 2016
Everything is possible.
Nguyen Thi Hang works as a Special Education Researcher at the Institute of Educational Science in Vietnam.
Vietnam (Origin/Residence)
Asia and the Pacific
Assessment
Braille
Curriculum
Parenting and Family Support
Teaching MDVI/DB
ELP Class of 2018
My life as a teacher for children with special needs begun the great day I realized about my love for children and learning.
Sister Thao works with children with disabilities at the Thien Hoa Center for Blind Children in Bac Ninh, Vietnam.
Vietnam (Origin/Residence)
Asia and the Pacific
Orientation and Mobility
Sign Language Interpreter for the Deafblind
Teacher Training
Teaching MDVI/DB
ELP Class of 2019
I want to share my knowledge, my experience with my sisters, teachers and parents, to help children care for themselves and live independently.
Huang is a senior teacher, associate researcher and deputy director of the Sichuan Institute for Educational Research. She also works as a special education advisor at Sichuan Normal University.
China (Origin/Residence)
Asia and the Pacific
Administration and Management
Teacher Training
ELP Class of 2017
One is never too old to learn.
Jigna holds a Bachelors Degree from Gujarat University and a Diploma in special education from Aliyavar Jung National Institute for the Hearing Handicapped. She works at the Blind People’s Association, Center for Children with Special Needs as a Project Manager. Jigna’s job responsibilities include identification, IEP development, assessment and parent training.
India (Origin/Residence)
Asia and the Pacific
Academics/Functional Academics
Administration and Management
Assessment
Daily Living Skills
Fundraising
Parenting and Family Support
Vocational Skills
ELP Class of 2019
My experience as an ELP felt like a light shining on my path to improve the lives of children with visual impairment and multiple disabilities.
Nikolina is a special education teacher at Mali dom, where she creates individual and group programs for children with MDVI and deafblindness. She has a bachelor’s degree in special education and a master’s degree in the rehabilitation of people with visual impairments. She has co-published several articles about functional vision assessment for children with multiple disabilities and visual impairment.
Croatia (Origin/Residence)
Europe and Eurasia
Daily Living Skills
Low Vision
Orientation and Mobility
Teaching MDVI/DB
Vocational Skills
ELP Class of 2016
Being at Perkins, surrounded by greatness, I have a vision for improving my program. I feel a strong desire to work with my ELP colleagues around the world. ELP graduates of the world unite!
Frank is a teacher at the Demonstration School for the Deaf (Centre for Deafblind Children and Youth) in Ghana. He has been a teacher of the deafblind, MDVI, blind and visually impaired for over twelve years.
Ghana (Origin/Residence)
Africa
Sign Language Interpreter for the Deafblind
Teaching MDVI/DB
ELP Class of 2013
All persons with disability need assistance in one way or another, no matter how negligible it may be; no support or service offered a person with disability is too small.
Stella is an education consultant at the Jofreshua Achievers Special Centre. She works to support children with disabilities through supporting parents, training teachers, assisting children and advocating for their rights.
Kenya (Origin/Residence)
Africa
Academics/Functional Academics
Administration and Management
Assessment
Behavior
Communication
Daily Living Skills
Fine and Gross Motor Skills
Parenting and Family Support
Psychology/Counseling
Sensory Development
Teaching MDVI/DB
Vocational Skills
ELP Class of 2010
My job is my passion.
Emi Kamei is a teacher at the Japan Deafblind Association. Besides her many skills, she has experience working as an interpreter for persons with deafblindness and as a math teacher for hearing impaired high school students.
Japan (Origin/Residence)
Asia and the Pacific
Academics/Functional Academics
Communication
Daily Living Skills
Teaching MDVI/DB
ELP Class of 2018
Thanks to Perkins, I will improve the lives of children with deafblindness in Japan.
Arathi is a project coordinator at Shree Ramana Maharishi Academy for the Blind in Bangalore, India, where she started the deafblind section in 2012 and developed an intervention plan for children with low vision.
India (Origin) India (Residence)
Asia and the Pacific
Academics/Functional Academics
Administration and Management
Assessment
Assistive Technology
Behavior
Braille
Communication
Curriculum
Daily Living Skills
Early Education
Fine and Gross Motor Skills
Fundraising
Inclusion
Literacy
Low Vision
Orientation and Mobility
Sensory Development
Social Skills
Teacher Training
Teaching MDVI/DB
Transition Planning
Vocational Skills
ELP Class of 2015
I can do things you cannot; you can do things I cannot; together we can do great things. Perkins’s ELP program connects professionals from all over the world and helps us work together to make this world a better place to live.
Joyce is a lecturer in special needs education at Montfort SNE College with a specialization in visual impairment, multiple disabilities and deafblindness. She previously worked as an itinerant teacher of the visually impaired. Joyce earned a bachelor’s of education from the University of Malawi and a diploma in education from the Domasi College of Education. She also volunteers with the Malawi Union of the Blind and the Visually Impaired and Hearing Impaired Membership Association.
Malawi (Origin/Residence)
Africa
Academics/Functional Academics
Administration and Management
Advocacy
Braille
Curriculum
Daily Living Skills
Early Education
Fine and Gross Motor Skills
Inclusion
Low Vision
Orientation and Mobility
Parenting and Family Support
Psychology/Counseling
Recreation and Leisure/Play Skills
Sensory Development
Teacher Training
Teaching MDVI/DB
ELP Class of 2016
Disability is not inability; every person can learn something in life. I am ready to lift the education of people with special needs higher.
Lilit is a lecturer, psychologist and the chair of Special Pedagogy and Psychology at Armenian State Pedagogical University. She also works as a psychologist at the M. Izmirlyan Children’s Home in Yerevan and is the founder of both the Ambra Mental-Well Being Center and the Heartbeat Center of Social-Psychological Assistance of Parents of Children with Inborn Heart Diseases. Lilit earned her master’s degree in psychology in 2002 from Yerevan State University and is working toward her PhD in psychology.
Armenia (Origin/Residence)
Europe and Eurasia
Academics/Functional Academics
Advocacy
Behavior
Communication
Psychology/Counseling
Teacher Training
Teaching MDVI/DB
Vocational Skills
ELP Class of 2016
It’s a big honor to participate in the ELP. I am inspired to be a future ambassador in my country and in my field.
Ashraf is a special teacher at the Narjes School for the Blind. She earned her master’s degree in curriculum studies at Payame Noor University and is working toward her PhD at Kharazmi University. Ashraf is an experienced educator, teacher trainer and orientation and mobility instructor. She was also one of the first special educators in Iran to produce braille teaching materials using computer software.
Iran (Origin/Residence)
Middle East and North Africa
Academics/Functional Academics
Braille
Curriculum
Early Education
Inclusion
Literacy
Orientation and Mobility
Sensory Development
Teacher Training
Teaching MDVI/DB
ELP Class of 2016
I wish to introduce deafblind education to special education in Iran. I am the first ELP participant from my country in at least 40 years.
Malle is a teacher of deafblind children at Tallinn Helen’s School and a worker at Estonian Support Union of Deafblind. She has been working with deaf children and young people since 1995, and teaching since 2007.
Estonia (Origin/Residence)
Europe and Eurasia
Academics/Functional Academics
Administration and Management
Assistive Technology
Behavior
Communication
Curriculum
Daily Living Skills
Early Education
Fine and Gross Motor Skills
Low Vision
Orientation and Mobility
Parenting and Family Support
Recreation and Leisure/Play Skills
Social Skills
Teacher Training
Teaching MDVI/DB
Vocational Skills
ELP Class of 2010
Everything is possible and it is never too late!
Anne is the assistant EARC coordinator at the Ministry of Education. A teacher by profession, she worked with the regular education, and with visually impaired students with multiple disabilities for more than 15 years. She currently works with a multidisciplinary team at a main referral hospital.
Kenya (Origin/Residence)
Africa
Academics/Functional Academics
Administration and Management
Advocacy
Behavior
Communication
Curriculum
Daily Living Skills
Early Education
Fine and Gross Motor Skills
Fundraising
Inclusion
Literacy
Low Vision
Orientation and Mobility
Parenting and Family Support
Psychology/Counseling
Recreation and Leisure/Play Skills
Sensory Development
Sex Education
Social Skills
Teacher Training
Teaching MDVI/DB
Transition Planning
Vision Assessment
Vocational Skills
ELP Class of 2016
I am ready to serve my country and anywhere my services is needed. Thank you and blessings, Perkins International.
Benjamin is a program officer at Sense International in Tanzania, an organization that works to empower deafblind/MSI people and their families. Previously he worked for the government of Tanzania as a special needs education officer in the Mufindi district, and before that as a teacher of the deaf at Iringa School for the deaf. He holds a bachelor’s degree in special needs education with a focus on cognitive disabilities from Tumaini University in Tanzania.
Tanzania (Origin/Residence)
Africa
Academics/Functional Academics
Advocacy
Assessment
Assistive Technology
Behavior
Communication
Curriculum
Daily Living Skills
Early Education
Fine and Gross Motor Skills
Inclusion
Literacy
Low Vision
Music Therapy
Orientation and Mobility
Parenting and Family Support
Psychology/Counseling
Recreation and Leisure/Play Skills
Sensory Development
Sex Education
Social Skills
Teacher Training
Teaching MDVI/DB
Transition Planning
Vocational Skills
ELP Class of 2015
The spirit of knowledge sharing offered by ELP is not throwing a fist in the air, but a true commitment that changes the lives of children with disabilities around the globe. I’m proud that I gained the knowledge to make such changes happen.
George works as a lecturer at Kyambogo University in the area of curriculum studies, with a focus on curriculum adaptation for learners with visual impairment. He is interested in research on mathematics education for learners with visual impairment, braille education, low-vision and educational materials adaptation.
Uganda (Origin/Residence)
Africa
Academics/Functional Academics
Assistive Technology
Braille
Communication
Curriculum
Inclusion
Literacy
Low Vision
Teacher Training
ELP Class of 1996
Determination and persistence leads to victory.
Ying is a preschool teacher and works in the resource center at the Chengdu School of Special Education. She also trains teachers and parents around her country.
China (Origin/Residence)
Asia and the Pacific
Academics/Functional Academics
Administration and Management
Assessment
Behavior
Braille
Communication
Curriculum
Daily Living Skills
Early Education
Fine and Gross Motor Skills
Fundraising
Inclusion
Literacy
Low Vision
Orientation and Mobility
Parenting and Family Support
Recreation and Leisure/Play Skills
Sensory Development
Social Skills
Teacher Training
Transition Planning
ELP Class of 2006
Try it, do it.
Pikul holds an M.Ed and a Ph.D. from Chiang Mai University. She work for the same University as a lecturer.
Thailand (Origin/Residence)
Asia and the Pacific
Assessment
Assistive Technology
Behavior
Communication
Curriculum
Daily Living Skills
Early Education
Inclusion
Literacy
Sensory Development
Teacher Training
Transition Planning
ELP Class of 2019
I have spend half of my life working with children with disability and training teachers. I feel a profound love for my work and I am so grateful for the learning opportunity Perkins gave me as an ELP.
Celina is a special education teacher at the Special Education Centre in Vieux Fort. Though the materials needed to work with the children are not readily available, she is motivated to find adaptive solutions in order to make them comfortable.
St. Lucia (Origin/Residence)
Latin America and the Caribbean
Academics/Functional Academics
Advocacy
Assistive Technology
Behavior
Communication
Curriculum
Daily Living Skills
Early Education
Fine and Gross Motor Skills
Literacy
Orientation and Mobility
Psychology/Counseling
Recreation and Leisure/Play Skills
Sensory Development
Social Skills
ELP Class of 2009
Anything I do, I will do with all my strength.
Ming is an associate professor in the Special Education Department at East China Normal University. She has a degree in psychology and was a visiting scholar at Boston College from 2012 to 2013. Ming is a member of the Chinese Association for Parents Having a Child with Visual Impairment’s team of experts and is also a board member of the Chinese Blind Persons Association and the Association for Individuals with Retina Degeneration.
China (Origin/Residence)
Asia and the Pacific
Assessment
Assistive Technology
Behavior
Communication
Daily Living Skills
Literacy
Low Vision Rehabilitation
Parenting and Family Support
Pedagogy and Psychology of Special Education
Teacher Training
ELP Class of 2013
What you do for others with disabilities is really what you do for yourself.
Mary is the head teacher of the deafblind program at the Kilimani Integrated School in Nairobi, Kenya. In addition to her many specialties, she is a specialist in Kenyan Sign Language.
Kenya (Origin/Residence)
Africa
Academics/Functional Academics
Administration and Management
Advocacy
Assessment
Behavior
Braille
Communication
Curriculum
Daily Living Skills
Early Education
Fine and Gross Motor Skills
Inclusion
Literacy
Low Vision
Music Therapy
Orientation and Mobility
Recreation and Leisure/Play Skills
Social Skills
Teaching MDVI/DB
Transition Planning
Vocational Skills
ELP Class of 2012
The ELP has enabled me to empower individuals who are deafblind and their families.
Marta works as a Special Educator and Low Vision Therapist at the Polish Association for Persons with Mental Disorders. She also has experience teaching dance classes to blind young students and lecturing about low vision.
Poland (Origin/Residence)
Europe and Eurasia
Daily Living Skills
Early Education
Low Vision
Sensory Development
Teaching MDVI/DB
ELP Class of 2018
It has been very exciting to be at Perkins. I am impressed with everything I saw and learnt here.
Karina is the principal of a special education school in Argentina named Sullai. She also holds a management degree in special education.
Argentina (Origin/Residence)
Latin America and the Caribbean
Academics/Functional Academics
Administration and Management
Behavior
Braille
Curriculum
Inclusion
Teacher Training
Teaching MDVI/DB
ELP Class of 2014
Be generous when you share your knowledge, and be grateful to those who helped you grow.
Irina is an educator at the School for Deaf Children in Russia, where for the past twelve years she has worked mostly with children with multiple disabilities and deafblind students. She also works with deafblind adults as an interpreter-guide and a psychologist at the charitable organization Usher-Forum.
Russia (Origin/Residence)
Europe and Eurasia
Assessment
Behavior
Communication
Curriculum
Psychology/Counseling
Recreation and Leisure/Play Skills
Social Skills
Teaching MDVI/DB
ELP Class of 2009
Look wider and share what you have seen–that’s what I have learned during my ELP program. There are different ways to teach, and it is important to be open to new goals and new ways of thinking.
Rajabu is the executive director at Deafblind Assistance Services (DBAS). He has participated in the preparation of curriculum for the community-based education in Tanzania, trained specialist teachers at Patandi Teachers College’s Visual Impairment Department, conducted training for community leaders in Arusha region, and mobilizing a group and registered an NGO dealing with children with multiple disabilities and deafblindness in Tanzania.
Tanzania (Origin/Residence)
Africa
Academics/Functional Academics
Advocacy
Assessment
Braille
Communication
Curriculum
Daily Living Skills
Low Vision
Orientation and Mobility
Recreation and Leisure/Play Skills
Teacher Training
Teaching MDVI/DB
ELP Class of 2012
Working with people with special needs is an important part of my life. When I support them I feel happier. Let us work as a team to assist them.
Edmond is a teacher at the Uganda School for the Deaf _ Ntinda. He teaches learners who are deafblind and prepares them for vocational training.
Uganda (Origin/Residence)
Africa
Communication
Daily Living Skills
Fine and Gross Motor Skills
Psychology/Counseling
Sensory Development
Teaching MDVI/DB
Transition Planning
Vocational Skills
ELP Class of 2015
There is hope where there is a will.
Edwin is a project officer at Nairobi Family Support Services. His training as a photojournalist served as a gateway into his current role serving the families of children with special needs.
Kenya (Origin/Residence)
Africa
Advocacy
Communication
Daily Living Skills
Fine and Gross Motor Skills
Parenting and Family Support
Psychology/Counseling
Recreation and Leisure/Play Skills
Sensory Development
Social Skills
Teaching MDVI/DB
ELP Class of 2014
Love for one another is the ultimate human connection.
Natalia Nadal is a psychologist who works for Asociacion Mexicana Anne Sullivan and for ASOMAS, providing services for children with deafblindness and multiple disabilities. She has experience in teacher training and collaborates with the delivery of Perkins International Academy courses in Mexico.
Mexico (Origin/Residence)
Latin America and the Caribbean
Behavior
Parenting and Family Support
Psychology/Counseling
Sex Education
Social Skills
Teaching MDVI/DB
ELP Class of 2018
Being at Perkins was a very motivating experience. I learnt as much as I could from students and staff.
Fiona is an occupational therapist working mainly with infants and children with developmental disabilities and school-based challenges. She worked for nearly five years at Arthur Blaxall School for the Blind and has experience in a variety of fields, including visual impairment and multiple disabilities.
South Africa (Origin/Residence)
Africa
Assessment
Assistive Technology
Communication
Daily Living Skills
Early Education
Fine and Gross Motor Skills
Low Vision
Sensory Development
Vocational Skills
ELP Class of 2012
My professional passion lies in seeing every person reach their full potential in life.
Mable is a teacher of deafblind children at the St. Mark School for the Deaf in Bwanda, Uganda.
Uganda (Origin/Residence)
Africa
Assessment
Behavior
Communication
Daily Living Skills
Fine and Gross Motor Skills
Orientation and Mobility
Parenting and Family Support
Psychology/Counseling
Recreation and Leisure/Play Skills
Sensory Development
Sex Education
Social Skills
Teaching MDVI/DB
Transition Planning
Vocational Skills
ELP Class of 2013
Education is what you remember after forgetting what was taught in school.
Scovia is a consultant for Kyambogo University in Kampala, Uganda.
Uganda (Origin/Residence)
Africa
Teacher Training
Transition Planning
Vocational Skills
ELP Class of 2019
My dream is to build a strong transition program to empower young adults with MDVI/DB through job training while empowering educators and parents with relevant skills around special needs issues.
As a mother of a youth with MDVI herself and as the Principal of a special education school, Rabeya Yeasmin works with the Disabled Rehabilitation and Research Association in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Bangladesh (Origin/Residence)
Asia and the Pacific
Academics/Functional Academics
Administration and Management
Advocacy
Assessment
Communication
Curriculum
Daily Living Skills
Early Education
Fine and Gross Motor Skills
Inclusion
Literacy
Low Vision
Orientation and Mobility
Parenting and Family Support
Psychology/Counseling
Recreation and Leisure/Play Skills
Sensory Development
Sex Education
Teacher Training
Teaching MDVI/DB
Transition Planning
Vocational Skills
ELP Class of 2011
Extend real love to children with special needs, and your work as a special educator will be almost done.
Joyce is the head teacher at the Deafblind Unit at the Kwale School for Deaf. She coordinates the teaching and learning at the unit and also works with families of children with deafblindness in the community.
Kenya (Origin/Residence)
Africa
Academics/Functional Academics
Administration and Management
Advocacy
Behavior
Braille
Communication
Curriculum
Daily Living Skills
Early Education
Fine and Gross Motor Skills
Inclusion
Literacy
Low Vision
Orientation and Mobility
Parenting and Family Support
Recreation and Leisure/Play Skills
Sensory Development
Sex Education
Social Skills
Teacher Training
Teaching MDVI/DB
Transition Planning
Vocational Skills
ELP Class of 2015
Together we can deliver life-changing programs to children and young adults with deafblindness/MDVI.
Huong is the head of the Multiple Disabilities and Visual Impairment Section at Nhat Hong Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired. With more than 16 years of experience in working with children who are blind and MDVI, she plans and implements IEP for her students and trains other teachers and parents.
Vietnam (Origin/Residence)
Asia and the Pacific
Behavior
Braille
Communication
Daily Living Skills
Early Education
Fine and Gross Motor Skills
Literacy
Low Vision
Orientation and Mobility
Parenting and Family Support
Teacher Training
Teaching MDVI/DB
ELP Class of 2011
Never put off for tomorrow, what you can do today. -Thomas Jefferson
Ksenia is a Teacher at Deafblind Support Foundation “Con-nection” and works as a lecturer for Lesgaft’s University. Her specialties include adapted physical education, sports and health, and recreation and leisure. She is training educators and other professionals across her country as well as leading the first volunteer group who serve people with deafblindness in Saint Petersburg.
Russia (Origin/Residence)
Europe and Eurasia
Daily Living Skills
Fine and Gross Motor Skills
Orientation and Mobility
Recreation and Leisure/Play Skills
Teacher Training
ELP Class of 2018
I am passionate about supporting children with MDVI/DB to have an active life and achieve their full potential through sports.
Tereza has been an early intervention consultant at the Association for Early Intervention, a non-governmental organization in the Czech Republic, since 2007. This organization provides professional services and consultations to families of children with disabilities and helps them so their children can be raised in their natural environment. As a new mother, Tereza now better understands how important it is to encourage parents to feel qualified to educate and support the development of their children.
Czech Republic (Origin/Residence)
Europe and Eurasia
Assessment
Assistive Technology
Behavior
Braille
Communication
Daily Living Skills
Early Education
Fine and Gross Motor Skills
Low Vision
Orientation and Mobility
Parenting and Family Support
Psychology/Counseling
Sensory Development
ELP Class of 2010
We might ‘see’ a lot if we really want.
Omolola is the Learning Director of Happy Tots Enrichment Center, which operates inside one of Nigeria’s largest teaching hospitals.
Nigeria (Origin/Residence)
Africa
Assistive Technology
Behavior
Communication
Curriculum
Daily Living Skills
Early Education
Inclusion
Literacy
Low Vision
Parenting and Family Support
Sensory Development
Social Skills
Teacher Training
Teaching MDVI/DB
Transition Planning
ELP Class of 2018
Coming to Perkins made me realize I have a lot to learn about children with special needs. This motivated me to learn more and do more to help these children.
Claudia is a Specialist Teacher in Mexico’s Department of Special Education. In addition to her specialties, she has a specialty in intellectual disability. She has consulted for online courses on multiple disabilities and deafblindness in her country.
Mexico (Origin/Residence)
Latin America and the Caribbean
Academics/Functional Academics
Assessment
Communication
Curriculum
Inclusion
Parenting and Family Support
Teacher Training
ELP Class of 2006
I would rather walk with a friend in the dark than alone in the light. –Helen Keller
Karina is an educational coordinator at Amapolas Special School. She has a passion for working with children, youth and adults with multiple disabilities. She is currently working toward a master’s in educational curriculum and loves to teach and train her colleagues.
Chile (Origin/Residence)
Latin America and the Caribbean
Academics/Functional Academics
Assistive Technology
Braille
Communication
Curriculum
Early Education
Orientation and Mobility
Teacher Training
Teaching MDVI/DB
ELP Class of 2014
My ELP experience has helped me improve teaching practices and the learning of my students who have multiple disabilities. And the journey continues.
Shahanaz Parveen works as a senior special educator at the Bangladesh Protibondhi Foundation. Her mission is to serve children with disabilities from poor income families and to provide them with health and education services and social participation in a safe and nurturing environment.
Bangladesh (Origin/Residence)
Asia and the Pacific
Academics/Functional Academics
Communication
Curriculum
Daily Living Skills
Early Education
Fine and Gross Motor Skills
Inclusion
Low Vision
Music Therapy
Orientation and Mobility
Parenting and Family Support
Sensory Development
Social Skills
Teacher Training
Teaching MDVI/DB
Transition Planning
ELP Class of 2018
I thank Perkins for giving me the opportunity to come here and learn more.
Ana Lucia is a physiotherapist and educator at the Eva Lindstedt Centre, Santa Casa Hospital, in Sao Paulo, Brazil. She also coordinates low vision projects for Perkins and Lavelle and works as a consultant for Perkins International in Latin America.
Brazil (Origin/Residence)
Latin America and the Caribbean
Academics/Functional Academics
Administration and Management
Advocacy
Assistive Technology
Curriculum
Daily Living Skills
Early Education
Fine and Gross Motor Skills
Inclusion
Literacy
Low Vision
Parenting and Family Support
Sensory Development
Teacher Training
Teaching MDVI/DB
Transition Planning
ELP Class of 2010
The ELP gave me the opportunity of sharing knowledge with several professionals and improving the services for children with visual impairments with or without additional disabilities in Brazil and Latin America.
Anna is an educator and psychologist at the Center for Curative Pedagogics. She works predominantly in early intervention and preschool education, and also has experience as a trainer at the Teacher’s Training Center. Anna is dedicated to raising the quality of life of children with multiple disabilities and their families.
Russia (Origin/Residence)
Europe and Eurasia
Advocacy
Assessment
Behavior
Braille
Communication
Curriculum
Daily Living Skills
Early Education
Fine and Gross Motor Skills
Low Vision
Orientation and Mobility
Parenting and Family Support
Psychology/Counseling
Recreation and Leisure/Play Skills
Sensory Development
Social Skills
Teacher Training
Teaching MDVI/DB
Transition Planning
ELP Class of 2008
Every life deserves to be meaningful!
Nu Thi is a teacher at the Nguyen Dinh Chieu Special School in Da Nang City. She earned her bachelor’s degree in special education at Da Nang University of Pedagogy. She has experience teaching children of all ages with blindness and multiple disabilities.
Vietnam (Origin/Residence)
Asia and the Pacific
Academics/Functional Academics
Advocacy
Communication
Curriculum
Daily Living Skills
Early Education
Fine and Gross Motor Skills
Low Vision
Orientation and Mobility
Parenting and Family Support
Social Skills
Teaching MDVI/DB
Vocational Skills
ELP Class of 2016
My hope is for my students to live independently in their family and community.
Julieta works in Argentina as the manager of projects and resources at the Fatima Institution and as coordinator of the Siblings’ Area at APPASMA (Argentinian Association for Parents of People with Deafblindness and Multiple Disabilities). She has a degree in psychology with a focus on working with deafblind people’s families. She works in fundraising and organizing events for siblings in Guatemala and several provinces of Argentina. She also offers briefings in schools to provide different emotional and relational tools for deafblind students and their siblings.
Argentina (Origin/Residence)
Latin America and the Caribbean
Fundraising
Parenting and Family Support
ELP Class of 2009
My experience in the ELP not only gave me many tools for professional development, but it changed my view about my profession in a positive way. I am extremely grateful for the opportunity and I hope to spend my life honoring it, working with all the students, siblings, and families requiring support.
Charlotte is the head of the deafblind unit at Ghana Education Service, Ashanti School for the Deaf. She also works in fundraising and raising awareness of students with multiple disabilities.
Ghana (Origin/Residence)
Africa
Administration and Management
Assessment
Communication
Curriculum
Daily Living Skills
Fine and Gross Motor Skills
Fundraising
Literacy
Low Vision
Orientation and Mobility
Parenting and Family Support
Psychology/Counseling
Recreation and Leisure/Play Skills
Sensory Development
Social Skills
Teacher Training
Teaching MDVI/DB
Vocational Skills
ELP Class of 2015
No child is ineducable.
Melina is a teacher and coordinator at Institución Fátima for Children and Young Adults with Deafblindness and Multiple Disabilities. She has taught children and young adults who are deafblind, MDVI, deaf, blind and visually impaired for over 14 years. She graduated from a master’s program in special education for teachers of the blind and multiply disabled.
Argentina (Origin/Residence)
Latin America and the Caribbean
Academics/Functional Academics
Administration and Management
Assessment
Braille
Communication
Early Education
Parenting and Family Support
Recreation and Leisure/Play Skills
Social Skills
ELP Class of 2011
It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.
Ji holds a Masters Degree in Special Education from East China Normal University and works as a teacher of students with multiple disabilities at the Shanghai School for the Blind.
China (Origin/Residence)
Asia and the Pacific
Academics/Functional Academics
Assessment
Assistive Technology
Behavior
Communication
Curriculum
Daily Living Skills
Parenting and Family Support
Recreation and Leisure/Play Skills
Sensory Development
Social Skills
Teaching MDVI/DB
ELP Class of 2019
The ELP Program has taught me to work with passion each and every day to support children with MDVI.
Guiping is a classroom teacher at Qingdao School for the Blind.
China (Origin/Residence)
Asia and the Pacific
Braille
Communication
Curriculum
Literacy
Orientation and Mobility
ELP Class of 2012
Do one thing at a time, and do it well.
Natalia teaches functional activities to students with multiple disabilities at Special School No. 3 in Neuquén.
Argentina (Origin/Residence)
Latin America and the Caribbean
Academics/Functional Academics
Communication
Teaching MDVI/DB
ELP Class of 2019
It inspires me to educate people with multiple disabilities and deafblindness knowing there is always the desire and possibility to communicate.
Samart specializes in adaptive physical education and coaching blind and visually impaired athletes. In particular, he has initiated training programs for such athletes to participate in hiking, ten-pin bowling, and full marathons. He has also initiated transition services programs for students with disabilities in Thailand and advocated in collaboration with Perkins International for the educational rights of Thai children with deafblindness and multiple disabilities. He is a two-time Paralympic coach (Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000).
Thailand (Origin/Residence)
Asia and the Pacific
Behavior
Communication
Curriculum
Teacher Training
Transition Planning
ELP Class of 2003
The primary cause of unhappiness is waiting for praise and recognition from others–praise and recognize yourself.
Andrea is a special education teacher at the Ministry of Education in Antigua and Barbuda. She developed an interest in special education in 2002 when she became the mother of a visually impaired daughter. Andrea works at her country’s only government-run school for students with various disabilities. She recently completed studies in general special education at the University of the Southern Caribbean and hopes to complete a master’s degree in inclusive special education.
Antigua and Barbuda (Origin/Residence)
Latin America and the Caribbean
Academics/Functional Academics
Advocacy
Teaching MDVI/DB
ELP Class of 2016
I am of the firm belief that every child can learn. My mission as a special educator, and as a human being, is to empower all children with disabilities to become productive individuals.
Sonia is a physical therapist and the Educational Director of FUNDAL but she first started working as an early childhood teacher. She is an active member of The Huehuetenango Commission for Persons with Disabilities and serves as an advocate and a trainer. She has proudly received an Excellence Award sponsored by the Ministry of Labor in Guatemala.
Guatemala (Origin/Residence)
Latin America and the Caribbean
Administration and Management
Behavior
Communication
Curriculum
Daily Living Skills
Early Education
Fine and Gross Motor Skills
Inclusion
Orientation and Mobility
Parenting and Family Support
Recreation and Leisure/Play Skills
Sensory Development
Social Skills
Teaching MDVI/DB
Vocational Skills
ELP Class of 2011
My experience as an ELP was one of the most valuable gifts in my personal and professional life. I learned the best skills to continue working and educating persons with multiple disabilities.
Christine is the dean of the College of Optometry at Manila Central University, where she also works as a lecturer. A licensed optometrist, she has earned master’s degrees in education and optometry. Christine also volunteers as an optometrist and lecturer at Resources for the Blind, Inc.
Philippines (Origin/Residence)
Asia and the Pacific
Academics/Functional Academics
Administration and Management
Advocacy
Curriculum
Early Education
Low Vision
Orientation and Mobility
Teacher Training
ELP Class of 2016
Following God’s lead, living my dream, pursuing excellence to change the lives of the visually impaired.
In addition to her responsibilities as a special education teacher and a Professor, Paula is the web manager for Perkins website in Latin America & the Caribbean: perkinsla.org
Argentina (Origin/Residence)
Latin America and the Caribbean
Academics/Functional Academics
Teacher Training
Transition Planning
Vocational Skills
ELP Class of 2003
From my experience with the ELP, my personal and professional life changed a lot, and I developed new ways of looking at, thinking about, and working on behalf of people with multiple disabilities and their families in various community settings.
As part of her role as an Assistant Professor at Gazi University, Pinar has established six MDVI/DB classes in schools for the blind in her country, where teacher training and family support is also provided.
Turkey (Origin/Residence)
Europe and Eurasia
Academics/Functional Academics
Assessment
Assistive Technology
Behavior
Communication
Daily Living Skills
Inclusion
Literacy
Low Vision
Orientation and Mobility
Social Skills
Teacher Training
Teaching MDVI/DB
ELP Class of 2010
I really appreciate the Perkins staff and students, because they changed my life, allowing me in turn to change the lives of my MDVI/DB students and their families.
Carolyn Paz is the director of CIDEVI and the coordinator of special education studies at Catholic University Silva Henriquez. She has 20 years of experience providing services for children with multiple disabilities and deafblindness and their families.
Chile (Origin/Residence)
Latin America and the Caribbean
Academics/Functional Academics
Administration and Management
Assessment
Communication
Curriculum
Daily Living Skills
Fundraising
Parenting and Family Support
Teacher Training
Teaching MDVI/DB
ELP Class of 2008
We constantly learn from the real teachers – the students.
Trudy is a special education coordinator for the Ghana Education Service, Akuapem North Municipal Education Office. She has been a teacher of the deafblind, MDVI, blind and visually impaired for over fourteen years. As a special education coordinator, her primary responsibility is early identification, intervention, and placement for all children in her municipality and beyond.
Ghana (Origin/Residence)
Africa
Teaching MDVI/DB
ELP Class of 2011
People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did but they will never forget how you made them feel.
Mariam works as a special educator for Caritas Egypt, a nongovernmental organization dedicated to supporting marginalized populations. She hopes to one day open her own school for children with multiple disabilities and visual impairment.
Egypt (Origin/Residence)
Middle East and North Africa
Academics/Functional Academics
Advocacy
Assessment
Behavior
Braille
Communication
Curriculum
Daily Living Skills
Early Education
Fine and Gross Motor Skills
Fundraising
Inclusion
Literacy
Low Vision
Orientation and Mobility
Parenting and Family Support
Psychology/Counseling
Recreation and Leisure/Play Skills
Sensory Development
Sex Education
Social Skills
Teacher Training
Teaching MDVI/DB
ELP Class of 2017
Always learning any and all things about persons with multiple disabilities and deafblindness is what I aim for.
Asma is a developmental therapist at Dhaka Children’s Hospital. When she returns to Bangladesh, she plans to share her new knowledge and skills by training staff at her hospital and others across the country.
Bangladesh (Origin/Residence)
Asia and the Pacific
Assessment
Communication
Fine and Gross Motor Skills
Low Vision
Sensory Development
Teacher Training
ELP Class of 2017
Thanks to Perkins, I will provide early intervention to at-risk children at my hospital and train professionals and families of children with disabilities.
Ausward is the Director of Salima Resource for the Blind in Malawi.
Malawi (Origin/Residence)
Africa
Advocacy
Teaching MDVI/DB
ELP Class of 2019
My major priority is advocating for the rights of children with disabilities to access a high quality education.
Emanuela is currently working as an Assistant Professor at the University. She has also been a teacher for MDVI students for more than 13 years and program supervisor for 10 at Bulgaria’s Sofia School for the Blind. She was an international consultant and training provider for Perkins International in Armenia (2007-2009) and Turkey (2013). She is a speech and language therapist and holds a PhD in methods and assessment of communication for nonverbal MDVI students.
Europe, Balkan region (Origin) Bulgaria (Residence)
Europe and Eurasia
Academics/Functional Academics
Assessment
Braille
Communication
Daily Living Skills
Inclusion
Literacy
Parenting and Family Support
Sex Education
Social Skills
Teaching MDVI/DB
ELP Class of 2005
The ELP has given me valuable experience and new professional opportunities. I continue my work to improve the lives of students with MDVI and their families.
Magdalena heads the Dena Upakara Foundation in Indonesia. She was the principal of the Helen Keller Indonesia Yogyakarta School from 2005 to 2014.
Indonesia (Origin/Residence)
Asia and the Pacific
Administration and Management
Fundraising
Teacher Training
ELP Class of 2010
Every child can learn–in the name of God and Jesus Christ, I love deafblind children.
Anna is a psychologist at Gyumri Children’s Home. She has worked for a number of years with pre-school age children who are blind and visually impaired, including some with multiple disabilities. The purpose of Anna’s work is to set her student’s behavior and integrate them into society.
Armenia (Origin) Russia (Residence)
Europe and Eurasia
Behavior
Psychology/Counseling
ELP Class of 2010
What are we waiting to help children with visual impairment to learn?
Sandra is the coordinator/consultant at the Adjustment to Blindness Program. She began her career as a special education teacher in 1983 at a school for the blind and also has experience working as a special education director/supervisor.
Trinidad & Tobago (Origin/Residence)
Latin America and the Caribbean
Academics/Functional Academics
Administration and Management
Advocacy
Assessment
Braille
Early Education
Inclusion
Low Vision
Parenting and Family Support
Teacher Training
ELP Class of 1990
The most beautiful things are not seen or heard but felt with the heart.
Siriporn is a supervisor at Thailand’s Northern School for the Blind and a teacher for children who are blind, deafblind, or have multiple disabilities.
Thailand (Origin/Residence)
Asia and the Pacific
Assessment
Communication
Curriculum
Daily Living Skills
Parenting and Family Support
Social Skills
Teaching MDVI/DB
Transition Planning
Vocational Skills
ELP Class of 2013
My ELP experience was wonderful and has done great things for my career.
Originally from India, Lilly is currently an Associate Professor at the Emirates College for Advanced Education in the United Arab Emirates. In addition to the ELP training she earned a PhD in Special Education – Moderate to Severe Disabilities from the University of Arizona, Tucson.
India (Origin) United Arab Emirates (Residence)
Asia and the Pacific
Academics/Functional Academics
Communication
Inclusion
Low Vision
Teacher Training
Teaching MDVI/DB
ELP Class of 1992
Twenty five years ago, I learned valuable lessons at Perkins, including how individuals with disabilities are valued members of the community and how services should be designed to raise them to their optimum potential. I owe a debt of gratitude to Perkins.
Thanh is a transition teacher at Nguyen Dinh Chieu School for the Blind. She is eager to always continue learning about multiple disabilities and training colleagues in Vietnam.
Vietnam (Origin/Residence)
Asia and the Pacific
Teaching MDVI/DB
Transition Planning
Vocational Skills
ELP Class of 2017
I am determined to share my experience at Perkins with my colleagues.
Keshari is the head teacher at the Purwanchal Gyanchakshu Vidyalaya School for the Blind in Nepal. Her work is wide-ranging and includes the roles of a teacher, trainer, caretaker, nurse, counselor and fundraiser.
Nepal (Origin/Residence)
Asia and the Pacific
Teaching MDVI/DB
ELP Class of 2016
Participating in the ELP is dream come true.
Ratchaneekorn is a special education lecturer at Chiang Mai University. She holds a doctorate in higher education and is interested in researching assessment and early intervention for young learners with disabilities in inclusive school settings.
Thailand (Origin/Residence)
Asia and the Pacific
Assessment
Assistive Technology
Early Education
Inclusion
Low Vision
Teacher Training
ELP Class of 2017
My priceless experiences at Perkins remind me that what we help our students with today, they will be able to do themselves tomorrow.
Monika is the supervisor of the MDVI and DB program at the School for the Blind in Budapest, Hungary. She works as an educational consultant in Hungary to expand educational opportunities for children and young people with multiple disabilities and with deafblindness.
Hungary (Origin/Residence)
Europe and Eurasia
Assistive Technology
Behavior
Communication
Daily Living Skills
Orientation and Mobility
Teaching MDVI/DB
ELP Class of 2001
Since being an ELP, my professional identity has changed a lot. My year at Perkins really inspired me and has opened the door for cooperation both nationally and internationally.
Ester is a teacher at the Rawinala school for students with multiple disabilities and visual impairment/deafblindness in Jakarta, Indonesia. She began working there in 2000. Her hope is that students with multiple disabilities can become independent and live meaningful lives.
Indonesia (Origin/Residence)
Asia and the Pacific
Communication
Daily Living Skills
Teacher Training
Teaching MDVI/DB
ELP Class of 2012
Serve with your heart.
Tuti manages an orphanage for Sayap Ibu Foundation which is a model program in the country. She is also involved in outreach and advocacy activities.
Indonesia (Origin/Residence)
Asia and the Pacific
Administration and Management
Fundraising
Parenting and Family Support
ELP Class of 2018
I came to Perkins with the goal of learning it all so I can work toward a more inclusive society for children with multiple disabilities in Indonesia.
In addition to her responsibilities at the University and her several specialties, Mira also specializes in education of the intellectually disabled, speech therapy, and distance and online education.
Bulgaria (Origin/Residence)
Europe and Eurasia
Academics/Functional Academics
Assessment
Behavior
Braille
Communication
Curriculum
Daily Living Skills
Early Education
Inclusion
Low Vision
Orientation and Mobility
Recreation and Leisure/Play Skills
Social Skills
Teacher Training
Teaching MDVI/DB
Vocational Skills
ELP Class of 2001
Working in the field of special education is everything I have dreamt of. All the university students, all the students with disabilities, and all the parents I have met in my career have taught me lessons that I can share with others. The world is full of knowledge and we are all both students and teachers.
Polina has diplomas in teacher of deaf children and speech therapy from Samara State Pedagogical University, 2006-2011. She works at State Budgetary Educational Institution School No. 117 since 2011. She is a speech therapist focused on working with children who are deaf and have cochlear implants.
Russia (Origin/Residence)
Europe and Eurasia
Academics/Functional Academics
Assessment
Communication
Parenting and Family Support
Sensory Development
ELP Class of 2019
Thanks to the ELP Program, I have the knowledge and skills that are required to provide quality education to children who are deafblind in Russia.
Derya is a TVI at the Mitat Enc school for the blind in Ankara, where she works with children who have multiple disabilities and deafblindness.
Turkey (Origin/Residence)
Europe and Eurasia
Academics/Functional Academics
Braille
Communication
ELP Class of 2019
I want to improve educational services for children with disabilities in Turkey by educating other teachers and guiding communication between families and educators.
Considered by many to be the “father of deafblind education,” Dr. Jan van Dijk first traveled to Perkins from his native Netherlands in 1963 to participate in what’s now known as the Educational Leadership Program. For the following five decades, he shaped the way professionals in the field of special education assess and teach students with multiple disabilities and deafblindness. Dr. van Dijk passed away in January 2018, but his legacy and contributions to the field live on at Perkins and around the world.
Netherlands (Origin/Residence)
Europe and Eurasia
Academics/Functional Academics
Behavior
Communication
Curriculum
Early Education
Inclusion
Literacy
Parenting and Family Support
Sensory Development
Teacher Training
ELP Class of 1963
I arrived at Perkins as a country boy and returned home as a man of the world. And the impact on my career was great. At home I was now considered the expert. It gave me motivation to meet such great expectations.
Maria lives in Argentina, where she is a founding member and general coordinator of ACIPDIM (Asociacion Civil Identidades Para Personas con Discapacidades Multiples – Civil Association for People with Multiple Disabilities), a university professor in special education at the National University of Rio Cuarto, and a consultant for Perkins International’s Latin America Regional Office. She has worked to improve educational practices mainly in the areas of classroom behavior modification, literacy, and accreditation of student learning.
Argentina (Origin/Residence)
Latin America and the Caribbean
Assessment
Behavior
Literacy
ELP Class of 2012
The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched – they must be felt with the heart. Helen Keller
Krupa is a Project Coordinator with the Blind People’s Association in Ahmedabad, India, working in services for persons with deafblindness in western India. Krupa’s responsibilities include assessment of children with multiple disabilities and deafblindness, program planning for children with multiple disabilities, training teachers, parents, and caregivers, and facilitating parents’ networks.
India (Origin/Residence)
Asia and the Pacific
Academics/Functional Academics
Advocacy
Assessment
Communication
Daily Living Skills
Inclusion
Parenting and Family Support
Sex Education
Teacher Training
Teaching MDVI/DB
Transition Planning
ELP Class of 2009
The message of the ELP means that every child with deafblindness and multiple disabilities can get quality services even in the remotest areas of the world.
Fransiska is the principal of SLB G/AB Helen Keller (Special School for the Deaf-Blind) Indonesia. She has worked with deafblind students for 18 years.
Indonesia (Origin) Jawa Tengah (Residence)
Asia and the Pacific
Academics/Functional Academics
Assessment
Braille
Communication
Curriculum
Daily Living Skills
Fine and Gross Motor Skills
Fundraising
Low Vision
Teacher Training
Teaching MDVI/DB
ELP Class of 2008
Loving deafblind children means loving Jesus Christ.
Stephanie is a teacher of special education at Huei-Ming School and Home for the Blind with more than 15 years of experience. Among of her several specialties, she has the expertise needed to empower the families of children with visual impairments and multiple disabilities. She has experience developing all kinds of personal-centered plans that lead to a more efficient teaching and a closer relationship with parents. Stephanie is also a graduate student of National Changhua University of Education and a specialist on career development.
Taiwan (Origin/Residence)
Asia and the Pacific
Academics/Functional Academics
Advocacy
Assessment
Behavior
Communication
Curriculum
Daily Living Skills
Early Education
Inclusion
Literacy
Parenting and Family Support
Social Skills
Teaching MDVI/DB
Transition Planning
ELP Class of 2014
Regardless of the environment, we must constantly strive.
Genevieve teaches children with visual impairment and multiple disabilities and adults who need vocational training at Akropong School for the Blind. In 2014 she received a national award for being one of the hardest working teachers in the Special Education Division.
Ghana (Origin/Residence)
Africa
Braille
Daily Living Skills
Early Education
Sex Education
Teaching MDVI/DB
Vocational Skills
ELP Class of 2016
I am overwhelmed with gratitude and can only say thank you to Perkins for selecting me for the ELP. I promise to work hard.
Moonset is the low vision services coordinator at the Blind and Visually Impaired Center of Monterey County in California. A native of Taiwan, Moonset has a specialty in Braille music transcription and training.
Taiwan (Origin) United States (Residence)
Asia and the Pacific
Braille
Low Vision
ELP Class of 1990
ELP provided me with the necessary knowledge and skills for being a teacher for the visually impaired with additional challenges, and strengthened my belief in empowering the visually impaired individuals I work with.
Yu is the director of the Qixing Department at Beijing School for the Blind.
China (Origin/Residence)
Asia and the Pacific
Early Education
Teacher Training
Teaching MDVI/DB
ELP Class of 2014
Love creates miracles!
Lili is a preschool teacher Nanjing School for the Blind. She also performs home visits.
China (Origin/Residence)
Asia and the Pacific
Early Education
ELP Class of 2008
I love my job and love my students. Through our work we can help them live a splendid life.
Mary works as a special education teacher in Nigeria. She believes that every child with a disability has their potentiality that just needs to be discovered. Her work focuses on providing individualized education to children and in planning recreational and leisure opportunities.
Nigeria (Origin/Residence)
Africa
Academics/Functional Academics
Assessment
Braille
Curriculum
Literacy
Parenting and Family Support
Recreation and Leisure/Play Skills
Social Skills
Teacher Training
Teaching MDVI/DB
ELP Class of 2020
Through my ELP experience, I discovered my mission in life. One that is about supporting children with multiple disabilities to achieve their full potential.
Mary plays the role of both manager and consultant at NIDA Society in Cairo. She has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from Ain Shams University, and she prepares visual and hearing assessments for children with multiple disabilities and deafblindness. She also trains others all over Egypt.
Egypt (Origin/Residence)
Africa
Assessment
Braille
Communication
Curriculum
Early Education
Fine and Gross Motor Skills
Low Vision
Sensory Development
Social Skills
Teacher Training
Teaching MDVI/DB
ELP Class of 2020
Sharing my experience at Perkins with my colleagues from Egypt, it is both my passion and mission.
Shinyoung teaches at Dauegu Cyber University, from which he obtained his master’s and doctorate degrees. He supports his university in expanding its course offerings in visual impairment, multiple disabilities, and severe disabilities.
South Korea (Origin/Residence)
Asia and the Pacific
Curriculum
Teacher Training
Teaching MDVI/DB
Transition Planning
ELP class of 2020
As an ELP graduate, my mission is to develop a curriculum for children with visual impairment and multiple disabilities in South Korea.
Daudi works at Patandi Teachers’ College of Special Needs as Head of the Visual Impairment Department since 2016. Among other topics, he teaches orientation & mobility, Braille, and teaching strategies for children with visual impairments, deafblindness, and multiple disabilities.
Tanzania (Origin/Residence)
Africa
Administration and Management
Assessment
Braille
Daily Living Skills
Inclusion
Low Vision
Orientation and Mobility
Teacher Training
ELP class of 2020
As an ELP graduate, I am now an empowered leader and a more skilled trainer.
Natalia is a special education teacher of students with multiple disabilities and deafblindness in El Salvator. She is also a national advocate for this population of children and young adults. Her passion lies in sharing her knowledge through workshops and train others across the country.
El Salvador (Origin/Residence)
Latin America and the Caribbean
Academics/Functional Academics
Administration and Management
Braille
Daily Living Skills
Orientation and Mobility
ELP class of 2020
As an ELP graduate, it is my mission to share my knowledge and skills in the area of deafblindness and multiple disabiltities with my colleagues in EL Salvador.
Kaique is a physiotherapist at Ahimsa Educational Association in Brazil since 2017. His areas of expertise are in early intervention, visual rehabilitation, and creating therapy sessions for students with multiple disabilities and visual impairment.
Brazil (Origin/Residence)
Latin America and the Caribbean
Assessment
Fine and Gross Motor Skills
Low Vision
Orientation and Mobility
Sensory Development
ELP class of 2020
Participating in the Perkins ELP Program has broadened my perspective. I now have a holistic view of children with visual impairment and multiple disabilities.
Carmen works at the Helen Keller School in Chile, coordinating academics and supervising teachers and students’ individual programs. She holds a Masters Degree in Special Education and Multiple Disabilities from UMCE and has vast experience as a trainer in the area of special education. She ambitions for a positive impact on children who need special attention and on their parents’ lives as well.
Chile (Origin/Residence)
Latin America and the Caribbean
Academics/Functional Academics
Administration and Management
Communication
Curriculum
Sensory Development
Teacher Training
ELP class of 2020
I am passionate about creating a positive impact on the children’s lives, their families, and teachers.
Susanna is an associate professor at Khachatur Abovyan Armenian State Pedagogical University and has a Ph.D. in Pedagogy. She is a speech and language therapist and a consultant-trainer as well.
Armenia (Origin/Residence)
Asia and the Pacific
Assessment
Communication
Curriculum
Fine and Gross Motor Skills
Inclusion
Low Vision
Orientation and Mobility
Sensory Development
Teacher Training
Teaching MDVI/DB
ELP class of 2020
Being a part of this program has given me the opportunity to connect with people of different cultures, and to learn more in-depth about children with visual impairment.
Phuong Linh has a degree in special education with a focus on inclusive education and early intervention. She works as an early intervention teacher, supporting inclusive education for children with visual impairment and intellectual disabilities at the Center for Development and Support of Inclusive Education in Vietnam.
Vietnam (Origin/Residence)
Asia and the Pacific
Early Education
Teaching MDVI/DB
ELP class of 2020
My goal, as an early childhood education teacher, is to allow each child to discover their own natural way of learning.
Molly works at Ngetta Girls Annex for the Blind Primary School as a teacher. She is a graduate of Kyambogo University in Kampala.
Uganda (Origin/Residence)
Africa
Academics/Functional Academics
Assessment
Braille
Communication
Daily Living Skills
Inclusion
ELP class of 2020
As an ELP graduate, I work towards my dream of creating meaningful change in the lives of children with visual impairment.
Tatiana holds a Masters Degree from Krasnoyarsk State Pedagogical University and works as a preschool teacher at Municipal Budgetary Preschool, an educational institution in Krasnoyarsk, Russia.
Russia (Origin/Residence)
Europe and Eurasia
Communication
Curriculum
Early Education
Parenting and Family Support
ELP class of 2020
Working with young kindergarteners who are deaf is one of the things I enjoy most in life.
With prior experience as a teacher, Thanh is currently a researcher in the area of education for visual impairment and multiple disabilities in Vietnam. She holds a master’s degree from Hanoi National University of Education.
Vietnam (Origin/Residence)
Asia and the Pacific
Assessment
Curriculum
Early Education
Inclusion
Parenting and Family Support
ELP class of 2020
Working with children with visual impairment and multiple disabilities brings both meaning and value to my professional life.