Perkins School for the Blind is committed to providing education and services that build productive, meaningful lives for children and adults around the world who are blind, deafblind or visually impaired with or without other disabilities.
Inside Perkins School begins with our beautiful Watertown, Massachusetts campus, where one can immediately sense the rich history we have as the first school in the United States for people who are visually impaired. Walk along the winding paths and through the halls and you will inevitably find Perkins' greatest resource: the energy of the students and the passion of the staff.
Over 200 students populate Perkins' residential and day programs, thriving on the guidance of an exceptional, interdisciplinary team of highly trained teachers, clinicians, residential and support staff. Perkins students enjoy an academic experience similar to that of any child, but also have access to specialized services that are critical for their development into adulthood. Students also benefit from everyday interaction with their peers and friends and special programs in the community.
Committed to developing each child's maximum level of self-reliance and independence, Perkins' staff designs an individualized educational plan for each student.
Students from birth to 22 years experience a wide range of skill-building activities, including everything from physical and language therapy to prevocational training and independent living skills. Enrollment options for age-appropriate, academic programs range from ungraded classes to an accredited, traditional high school program. Very few students spend all their school years at Perkins. Most attend Perkins for a few years before or after attending public schools.
Perkins' academic program is complemented by participation in group activities such as chorus, plays and horticultural projects in the school's greenhouse and gardens.
