2016 Annual Report Changing the World Doesn’T Happen in a Day
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2016 Annual Report Changing the world doesn’t happen in a day. It happens every day. Changing the world is an essential part of our work at Perkins School for the Blind. It’s the only way children and young adults with blindness, low vision and deafblindness will ever get the opportunity to truly share their talents and dreams with the rest of the world. Changing the world starts, as it has for 187 years at Perkins, with the world-class education we provide to students, on campus and in local communities. It expands outward to the thousands of special education teachers we reach through Perkins eLearning and other professional development opportunities. And it takes flight to dozens of countries around the globe, where Perkins International offers training and expertise to schools, nonprofits and government agencies. We know that to change the world, we must first change minds. Our campaign, BlindNewWorld, is already doing that. BlindNewWorld From the CEO and the Board Chair is at the heart of our efforts to break through barriers of pity, ignorance and fear – and change the world’s perception of blindness. Since we At Perkins School for the Blind, we’ve always known enough. We must also convince the world to welcome launched it in May, millions of people have been exposed to the that belief is one of the greatest gifts you can give to people with blindness as equals – or our students will campaign on social media sites like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. children who are blind. Belief in their talent and potential. always face daunting barriers to success. In other words, In the pages that follow, you’ll see all the ways – large and small – Belief that their abilities are more important than we must change the way the world sees blindness. Perkins changes the world in one typical day. Around the clock, their disabilities. Achieving that goal wouldn’t be possible without the that change is occurring in classes, on public transportation, We’ve always known that education is essential, too. generous support of the Perkins community. We’re deeply in social situations, on job sites, in neighbors’ homes and For 187 years, we’ve been teaching students who are blind, grateful to all the individuals and organizations that support throughout developing nations. deafblind or visually impaired with additional disabilities. our work, including members of the Perkins-Business Our extraordinary educators work with children and young Partnership, supporters of our BlindNewWorld initiative At Perkins, we know changing the world isn’t easy. But that adults on and off our campus, helping them gain the and so many more. won’t stop us from trying – every hour of every day. academic knowledge and practical skills they’ll need To all of you, thank you for believing in Perkins. for the rest of their lives. Thank you for believing in our students. But we’ve come to realize that preparing our students isn’t Warmly, W. David Power Corinne Basler Grousbeck President and CEO Chair of the Board 1 Lydia Greene checks in with a Perkins intern When he first began interning at Tufts Health to land a job. Students ages 15-22 who are Plan, Perkins School for the Blind student Jon enrolled at Perkins or in public school learn Gardner was charged with filling goody bags how to craft a resume, disclose a disability for new employees. With the help of a Perkins and interview effectively. job coach, Gardner developed an assembly line All Perkins students benefit from real-world process and quickly mastered the task. training and vocational programs that prepare His enthusiasm and work ethic didn’t go them for a challenging job market. An annual job unnoticed. Soon, Gardner was asked to phone fair connects older students with local companies, new employees with information about upcoming and summer programs offer enriching on-the orientation events. job opportunities. The Perkins-Business Partnership, of which Tufts Health Plan is a “That’s a big vote of confidence on the part founding member, works to open up employment of my team,” says Lydia Greene, senior vice opportunities for qualified candidates with president and chief human resources officer visual impairment. at Tufts Health Plan. “He did a great job.” When Gardner works at Tufts Health Plan, he For Perkins students, exposure to the world isn’t the only one learning. As he takes on more of work begins early and continues into young and more responsibility, his colleagues see first adulthood. By the time Gardner graduates, he’ll hand how people with visual impairments can have worked in a variety of settings – from large contribute to a company’s success. corporate offices to small nonprofits. “Employees who are blind or otherwise disabled In January, Perkins unveiled a 10-week are an important part of our diverse workforce,” Pre-Employment Program, which equips young says Greene. “They’re as capable as anyone else.” adults who are visually impaired with the skills We’re changing 6:58 AM 9:17 AM 10:03 AM the world A Secondary Program student in a Perkins A toddler who is nonverbal smiles in A retired plumber with fading vision residential cottage buzzes his chin with an 8:08 AM delight as he plunks notes on a piano reads a product manual using a desktop electric razor, practicing an essential during music therapy at Perkins’ magnifier from Perkins Solutions. every day independent living skill. Early Learning Center. 2 3 He’s a little late to his weekly yoga class, so of skills they need to succeed at school, in Deafblind student Antonio 19-year-old Antonio speeds through the first social situations, at home and on the job. couple of poses to catch up with his classmates. Students like Antonio get a full range of As he moves through the yoga positions – from steps onto a yoga mat academics and life skills as part of their every downward dog to warrior one – he’s stretch day education at Perkins. Students in public ing his arms, bending his knees and turning his schools who attend Perkins Short Courses torso. All these actions help him build strength or have one-on-one sessions with Perkins and improve stability. community teachers learn essential skills they That’s especially important because Antonio can’t get in their regular classes. is deafblind. Like many people with limited “Students learn how to manage themselves sensory input, he can struggle with balance in the world and their relationships to people and movement. But what Antonio gains from around them,” Covelli says. “Teaching the ECC yoga goes beyond physical conditioning. helps students learn to access the world for a “Yoga is just a medium for accessing a whole more independent, engaged and happy future.” variety of skills,” says teacher Andrea Covelli. She points out how Antonio shows independent living skills by removing his shoes before class. He interacts with his classmates, improving his social skills. He practices self-determination by deciding how energetically to exercise. At Perkins School for the Blind, these lessons are part of the Expanded Core Curriculum Perkins community teacher Pamela Oddis (ECC). Without the ability to learn through helps Cheyenne, a pre-kindergartner with casual observation like their sighted peers, low vision, learn to navigate the hallways of children and young adults who are blind must her public school. For this morning’s lesson, be explicitly taught crucial skills, ranging from Oddis uses an iPad to show Cheyenne a assistive technology to recreation to orientation photo of a specific location in the school, and mobility. The ECC gives students a toolbox and then asks her to find it independently. This way, Cheyenne practices her orientation and mobility skills while also learning about accessible technology. 10:36 AM 12:21 PM 1:09 pM 1:30 PM 10:15 AM An Iowa teacher uses a tip she Secondary Program student Bill, 21, gets his hands 11:10 AM learned from Perkins eLearning to dirty while helping to change the oil in a Perkins help her student, who is blind with van. Bill has always been interested in car repair, cognitive disabilities, independently so his vocational teachers found him a volunteer A student in the Deafblind Program examines operate a CD player. opportunity at the Perkins garage. The hands-on the roots of a plant with an electronic magnifier experience has allowed him to learn more about during science class. A Perkins alumnus drops by the Perkins cars and gain valuable job skills for the future. Library to browse braille books in the sunny new Patron Reading Room and Technology Center. 4 5 Dylan Kanaan strikes up a conversation on the subway Up until last year, college student Dylan Kanaan had never encountered every day by people who are blind. Visitors are interacted with someone who is blind. encouraged to take small steps to make their homes, work places and communities more inclusive. “My perception of blind people was extremely limited,” he says. “I’m sure my subconscious was quite biased with regard Since BlindNewWorld’s launch in May, 29 million people have to their abilities.” been exposed to the campaign on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. A growing number of people worldwide have joined the Then Kanaan learned about BlindNewWorld, a social change movement and voiced their support for acceptance and inclusion. campaign launched by Perkins to permanently alter the way the Deafblind Program student David, 13, maneuvers through an obstacle world views people who are blind. Browsing the campaign’s Many, like Kanaan, have been inspired to take action. He’s taking course during adapted physical education class.