2017 was a big year for Perkins School for the Blind. We launched Perkins International Academy, our most ambitious teacher-training initiative to date. We kicked off new programs like College Success@Perkins and celebrated 10 years of Taste of Perkins. We bid farewell to our largest graduating class in recent memory, and welcomed new students to our on and off-campus programs. Here's a look back at the many moments, large and small, that made 2017 one of our best yet:
Lower School student Doryan and his classmates hold up cut-outs of U.S. presidents and first ladies during a history lesson on President's Day. (Photo by Alex Quessada/Perkins School for the Blind)
Perkins Itinerant Teacher Ilse visits Ryan in his Shrewsbury home. Ilse specializes in working with students with Cortical Visual Impairment, the leading cause of visual impairment in developed countries. This year, Perkins launched CVI Hub, on online resource for parents, educators and caregivers. (Photo by David Gordon/Perkins School for the Blind)
Jack tries his hand at rowing during a Camp Abilities outing in April. (Photo by David Gordon/Perkins School for the Blind)
More than 450 children and family members joined in the fifth annual – and biggest ever – accessible egg hunt in April. Here, Ryah, 10 of Dorchester, holds one of 300 beeping eggs up to her ear. (Photo by David Gordon/Perkins School for the Blind)
Boston Mayor Marty Walsh becomes the latest celebrity to touch the Perkins tactile globe during a visit to school in April. Other admirers have included John F. Kennedy, George Bush and Helen Keller. (Photo by David Gordon/Perkins School for the Blind)
Perkins Secondary Program student Bronwen touches a whale skeleton with Cape Ann Whale Watch intern Kaitlin during a field trip to Gloucester in May. (Photo by David Gordon/Perkins School for the Blind)
Student hosts Jamie and Jonah keep the crowd in stiches at the Perkins Possibilities Gala in May. The Gala raised $1 million to support education for students who are blind or visually impaired. (Photo by David Gordon/Perkins School for the Blind)
Nine members of the Educational Leadership Program's Class of 2017 pose for a photo with Perkins leadership after a graduation ceremony in May. The international educators spent nine months living and working at Perkins before returning to their home countries to put their newfound skills to work. (Photo by David Gordon/Perkins School for the Blind)
Perkins Secondary Student Alex smiles during a rehearsal with the Cambridge-based performance group Revels. Every May, Perkins and Revels perform the "Celebration of Spring," a production filled with music and dance. (Photo by David Gordon/Perkins School for the Blind)
Monthian Butan, a member of the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, walks though the main lobby of the UN on his way to a panel discussion hosted by Perkins in June. During the event, Perkins International officially launched Perkins International Academy, an ambitious teacher-training program designed to end the global shortage of special educators around the globe. (Photo by David Gordon/Perkins School for the Blind)
Newly minted Perkins graduates Paige (left) and Kendra (right) celebrate after a rousing graduation ceremony in June featuring Massachusetts House Speaker Robert DeLeo as Commencement Speaker. (Photo by David Gordon/Perkins School for the Blind)
Natacha prepares a suite for guests during a shift at Residence Inn in Watertown in July. The 21-year old high school student landed the job placement through Perkins' five-week summer program, World of Work. (Photo by David Gordon/Perkins School for the Blind)
Perkins deafblind student Cameron and his mother Jessica play outside the Hilton Building over the summer. It was a busy year for the youngster, who got to shake hands with Boston Mayor Marty Walsh and was featured in a Perspectives Magazine article on parenting kids who are blind. (Photo by David Gordon/Perkins School for the Blind)
Charlie, 2, plays in the ball pit in October. Charlie is a student in Perkins' Infant-Toddler Program, which offers educational services and family support during the earliest years of development. (Photo by David Gordon/Perkins School for the Blind)
Perkins Lower School student Brayden works with his teacher on a braille lesson using the Perkins SMART Brailler®, a digital version of the classic Perkins Brailler that has become a crucial literacy tool for educators. (Photo by David Gordon/Perkins School for the Blind)
Perkins Diversity and Inclusion Speaker Jaimi Lard (left) takes the stage at TEDxBeaconStreet for the first time in November, delivering a 10-minute talk on the importance of inclusion. Lard, who is deafblind, was joined by her longtime interpreter, Christine Dwyer. (Photo by David Gordon/Perkins School for the Blind)
Keep up with Perkins news and events throughout the year on the Perkins Stories page »