Perkins School for the Blind, the nation’s first school for students with visual impairments, provides education and services to help build productive, meaningful lives for 200,000 children and adults who are blind or deafblind, including those with additional disabilities in the U.S. and more than 60 countries worldwide. Founded in 1829, Perkins pursues this mission around the world, in the community and on its 100-year-old campus in Watertown, Massachusetts.

Perkins International,  the global arm of Perkins School for the Blind, works more than 60 countries in the developing world to create educational opportunities for children with disabilities. The strength of impact the impact of Perkins International is seen in the more than 66,000 people around the world who benefited from their efforts just last year. Now, Perkins looks to deepen its impact in key countries, and none is more important to Perkins than India.  

At least 12 million people who are blind live in India - more than 25% of the world’s blind population. Roughly 80% of children with disabilities there do not attend school. Working with its local partners in India, Perkins is striving to change that. Beginning in the 1950’s Perkins formed collaborations with local partners throughout the country. Since 1989, they have trained thousands of teachers, parents, and administrators in best education practices for children with disabilities. Perkins also assembles, repairs, and distributes Perkins Braillers®, the pen and paper for a person who is blind, through a local Indian partner. Throughout its history, Perkins has distributed more than 350,000 braillers in 170 countries, including a substantial number in India.

The development of educational opportunities in India are at a critical point. Much has been accomplished, yet tremendous work remains. To find new ways to deliver to India the innovations developed on its U.S. campus, Perkins seeks to leverage the efforts of their new full-time, India-based business development manager. To those ends, Perkins invites key community members to advise them on how to magnify their impact across India, enhancing the lives of countless children who are blind.

Lokvani readers are invited to learn how Perkins School for the Blind works in India. On Tuesday, May 15, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. at the Grousbeck Center for Students & Technology on Perkins Watertown, MA, campus, members of the Indian community will hear how Perkins and their local partners throughout India help children with disabilities. With the formation of the India Advisory Committee, Perkins seeks community input, ideas, and guidance to help more children who are blind get access to a quality education in India.
 
To learn more about Perkins’ India Advisory Committee, attend the inaugural meeting on Tuesday, May 15, at 7:00 p.m. Directions here: www.perkins.org/directions

This short video chronicles Perkins’ impact in India:  http://vimeo.com/25475838 (Password: Perkins5)

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