President's Message
Dear friends of Perkins,
As we celebrate 180 years of service and look optimistically towards the future, Perkins is making important strides even in the midst of economic challenges.
In 1829 Perkins consisted of a small classroom in a Boston home. From humble beginnings, we expanded our work to reach a worldwide audience - transforming possibilities into realities across campus, across communities, and across continents.
The same innovation and vision that allowed Perkins’ founders to do what others thought was impossible – successfully educate a young girl who was deafblind – lives on in all we do today.
We are empowering individuals who are blind or visually impaired by supporting braille literacy. On January 4, 2009 Perkins celebrated the 200th birth anniversary of Louis Braille and developed a new section of our website celebrating all the ways braille literacy continues to change lives. Braille literacy was also the focus our recent bi-monthly eNewsletter, Perkins Insight. Our latest issue focuses on the benefits of Horticulture Therapy.
On campus we celebrated another important anniversary – Martin Luther King Jr., Day. Featured speaker Micheline Slattery relayed her harrowing experience with slavery in the 21st century and inspired students and staff with her story of triumph and hope.
As we support more infants in their homes, students on our campus, and individuals 55 and older in the community, we welcome our new Superintendent of Education Programs, Dorinda Rife.
Our commitment to being the teacher of teachers has never been stronger. We continue to release on-demand educational webcasts, the latest of which is focused on Adapted Physical Education. We are expanding professional training opportunities through the Perkins Training Center and developing Perkins Publications that speak directly to topics of interest in the field.
We continue to help families of individuals with disabilities access the best available resources. We enjoyed our second annual “Envision the Future” Conference, which addressed transitioning from school to adult life. On May 2, we are looking forward to our 26th Annual New England Regional Seminar for Families of Children with Visual Impairments (Ages 0-7), "Taking Care of Our Children ... Taking Care of Ourselves."
Around the world, we are helping more teachers earn qualifications in the education of children with multiple disabilities. We have made significant progress in Latin America. In Argentina, this year 18 professionals earned advanced degrees in one of our university programs. This is an exceptional feat – it is estimated that a maximum of 20 teachers will graduate from U.S. universities with similar qualification.
Especially in times of difficulty, we are thankful for the committed staff and family members showing their support by running for Perkins in the 2009 Boston Marathon on April 20. Meet the Perkins Team, read their stories, and sponsor a runner.
As we face trying financial times, we choose to focus on what is possible. We are using innovation to grow our programs and continue enhancing the lives of the 94,000 people we serve around the world. We thank all of those who help us to execute this mission.
Sincerely,
Steven M. Rothstein
President
steven.rothstein@perkins.org