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International Agency for International Agency for Prevention of BlindnessPrevention of Blindness
99thth General Assembly General Assembly
Steven Rothstein, PresidentDr. Aubrey Webson, Director,
Perkins InternationalSeptember 18, 2012
How many How many children are children are not in school not in school today today because they because they are blind, are blind, visually visually impaired or impaired or deafblind?deafblind?
There are 6 There are 6 million children million children around the world around the world who are blind, who are blind, deafblind, or deafblind, or visually impaired visually impaired with multiple with multiple disabilities.disabilities.
4.5 million of them do not receive an education.
Perkins’ BackgroundFounded 1829: First U.S. school for the blind.
Providing education for 183 years
• Helen Keller and her teacher, Anne Sullivan attended.
• Today, Perkins impacts over 600,000 individuals around the world through a range of services for infants, school-aged children and young adults, and their families and professionals.
• 67 countries, more than 300+ local implementing partners
Focus: Education, Advocacy, Information & Technology & Leadership Development,
Braille literacy
Approach: work w/ local partners through small grants (training, technical assistance, leadership development)
Perkins International
• Global program: Advance education of children with disabilities who are visually impaired with additional disabilities.
• Empower families, educators, communities and governments
Capacity BuildingCapacity BuildingPerkins partners with 300 schools to:
● Improve teachers’ skills● Provide direct services● Promote Braille literacy● Build coalitions with
parents, policy makers and universities
Perkins’ PartnershipsPerkins’ Partnerships
Schools and Schools and TeachersTeachers
50,000 children, families and
teachers benefited from Perkins’ international
effortsProducing digital &
print materials
Perkins’ PartnershipsPerkins’ Partnerships
ParentsParents
Parents are often the strongest advocates for the rights of their children.
Perkins’ PartnershipsPerkins’ Partnerships
GovernmentsGovernmentsUniversities
26 university programs in 20+ countriesThis year, Perkins supported 550 participants in university programs addressing education of children who are blind, or visually impaired with multiple disabilities.
Perkins’ PartnershipsPerkins’ Partnerships
Local OrganizationsLocal Organizations
Perkins’ PublicationsPerkins’ Publications
• Nothing For Us, Without Us
• Capacity building of local organizations
From Isolation to CommunityDominican Republic
Dominican Republic example
From 10 students to over 400 across the country, including those with multiple disabilities
From Isolation to CommunityFrom Isolation to Community
All we see is Possibility…
www.perkins.org