Support Our Work
"Kindness is a language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see"
—Mark Twain
There are at least 6 million children who are blind or visually impaired around the world. The majority of these children do not attend school. Children who are blind with additional impairments face even greater challenges – less than 10 percent of these children have access to an education. Perkins International is working with partners in more than 60 countries around the world to overcome these challenges. Our work transforms the lives of children, their families, their teachers, and their communities and makes it possible for children to reach their greatest potential.
Despite the tireless efforts of Perkins International staff and our partners, the need for educational programs for blind and deafblind children in developing countries remains great. Your support can make a real difference in the lives of these children and their families.
Your support will help Perkins International to:
- Expand educational and rehabilitation services to children
- Ensure that every child who is blind has access to a Perkins Brailler® - the standard for brailling excellence
- Train additional teachers in specialized education for children
- Provide opportunities for parents to share their experiences
- Develop and translate educational resources for teachers, students and parents
- Support parents in advocating for policies that address the needs of their children
- Create university programs that provide instruction and certification to teachers
Other ways your support helps Perkins International:
- Help parents learn communication strategies to connect with their children
- Sponsor educators from the around the world in our Educational Leadership Program, a year-long study program at Perkins’ campus in the United States
- Conduct brailler repair training programs around the world
- Support networking efforts by grassroots organizations for the blind and deafblind
- Educate policymakers about the specialized needs of children with visual impairments and other disabilities
- Help young adults transition to adulthood through vocational training and job opportunities
To make a gift to Perkins International, please contact Stacy N. Taylor, Director of International Resource Development, at Stacy.Taylor@Perkins.org.