Checklist
Early Connections service offerings and resources
Perkins School for the Blind is built upon a foundation of positive and supportive relationships with districts, students and their families. Below, find a list of our current offerings and resources.
Current service offerings
- Apply to Perkins Admissions or request independent educational evaluations
- Virtual Information Sessions with Program Leaders and Experts
- Questions? Contact [email protected] or [email protected] for more information.
- Perkins educational partnerships
(Itinerant teachers of the visually impaired, orientation & mobility services & evaluations)- Questions? Contact [email protected] for more information.
- Perkins Infant-Toddler programs
- Tele-visits – In collaboration with early intervention programs, our teachers provide coaching strategies for families and teams, in accordance with the Massachusetts EI model of PIWI (Parents Interacting with Infants)
- Attend remote transition planning conferences and eligibility meetings for Special Education
- Questions? Contact [email protected] for more information.
- Perkins Outreach Short Courses (Ages 7-22)
- Remote programming available (including free of charge parent discussion groups and student social skills groups)
- If legally blind, funding is available through MCB (Massachusetts Commission for the Blind) for students ages 14 and up.
- Contact [email protected] for more information.
Perkins resources
- Perkins CVI Now page (see CVI resources from other organizations further down)
- New England Eye Low Vision Clinic at Perkins
- Perkins Resources for Parents and Caregivers
- Learn About the Expanded Core Curriculum
- The Independent Little Bee Blog (not affiliated with Perkins)
- Perkins ECC 2020 Conference Recordings
- Perkins Paths to Technology (Early Intervention)
- Perkins eLearning
Literacy resources
- Perkins Library provides free access to braille, talking books, and technology, shipped nationally at no cost. (pre-paid return envelopes are included) Apply here
- Find Braille and Talking Book Libraries in this Country
- Paths https://www.pathstoliteracy.org/to Literacy
- Babyhearing.org Literacy Checklist
- National Braille Press Bookstore
- Emergent Literacy: National Center on Deafblindness
- Children’s Book Videos read in American Sign Language
- American Sign Language Free Downloadable Alphabet Chart
- Described and Captioned Media Program: “Families and educators who have at least one student with a disability can register for free membership and access thousands of accessible, educational videos.”
- Core Knowledge: Provides an entire categorized google drive, free of charge, with youtube book read alouds targeted towards grades K-3.
- Seedlings Book Angel Program: Blind and Visually Impaired children can receive three free braille books per year! (Other free braille resources such as encyclopedia articles found here)
Organizations
- New England Consortium on Deafblindness
- APH Connect Center
- SPED Child Mass.
- Mass. Commission for the Blind
- Lighthouse Guild
- Active Learning Space: Families
- National Center for Deafblindness Families Page
- MassMATCH: Massachusetts’s initiative to Maximize Assistive Technology in Consumers Hands
- Described and Captioned Media Program: “Families and educators who have at least one student with a disability can register for free membership and access thousands of accessible, educational videos.”
- Our Space Our Place (Massachusetts)
- Special Needs Advocacy Network, Inc. (SPAN Mass.)
- Swim Angelfish: Leading the way in adaptive swim techniques for children of all abilities! Swimming provides a multitude of benefits for children and amazing skills building opportunities for children who receive services, such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, and more. The leaders at Swim Angelfish are empowering parents to request “Certified Swim Whisperer Instructors” at their local swim facilities. For more information regarding the Swim Whisperer Certification please visit the link above. Scholarships are available! Any facility can have a swim whisperer instructor, if you need one say something to your local aquatics director or reach out to Swim Angelfish. Please note, this is not a Perkins endorsed program, rather a resource for parents who are interested in learning more. Happy Swimming!
Parent support sessions
- Lighthouse Guild Parent Tele Support Enrollment and Information
- Lighthouse Guild Parent Tele Support CHARGE Syndrome Group
- Open to parents/guardians from the U.S., Canada and other countries. This wonderfully supportive group meets by phone every other Tuesday.
- Contact: Sheri Stranger, CHARGE Syndrome Tele-Support Group Facilitator, [email protected] or call the Family Support Programs at 212-769-6318
Parent learning and webinars
- Charge Syndrome Foundation Webinars
- John Tracy Center Video Tips
- APH Connect Center Webinars
- American Society for Deaf Children Online American Sign Language Classes
- Signing Time Dictionary
- American Society for Deaf Children Online American Sign Language Classes
- Active Learning Space: Ideas for Young Learners
- Federation for Children With Special Needs: Parent Training
- NVISION: Organizations & Resources supporting the visually impaired
- NVISION: Internet Navigation for Individuals with Low Vision or Blindness
- NVISION: Children’s Eye Health Guide: Exams, Glasses, & More
Cortical Visual Impairment/Cerebral Visual Impairment
- Perkins CVI Now Page
- Children’s Vision Massachusetts
- Kaleidoscope Podcast
- CVIJourney.com: great recommendations on toys and activities for children with CVI.
- Boston Children’s Hospital CVI Page
- CVI iPad App: “Ballyland Stay Still, Squeaky! is a fun iPad app for all, while being specifically designed for young children who are blind or visually impaired. The interactive story teaches basic iPad skills through cause and effect, while the Bonus Game builds spatial awareness on the screen.”
- Tap-n-See Now CVI iPad App
- Little Bear Sees
- CVI Scotland
Information about third party providers, products, and services does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by Perkins School for the Blind (“Perkins”). It is the user’s responsibility to verify and investigate providers, products, and services. References to or information regarding commercial products, information, services, manufacturer, or company do not constitute endorsement or recommendation by Perkins.
