Perkins School for the Blind
175 North Beacon Street
Watertown, MA 02472
United States
At Perkins School for the Blind, we transform lives by helping children with disabilities find their place in the world. As a global leader in education for children with visual impairments, including deafblindness, CVI, CHARGE, and multiple disabilities, we are proud to offer a continuum of services that addresses every need, ability, and age – infancy through adulthood. Our innovative programs include day and residential options, virtual transition programming, direct services in public schools and much more. Since 1829, we've empowered children and young adults with the education, confidence, and skills to reach their full potential. On our vibrant, historic 38-acre campus near Boston, students thrive in a dynamic environment, building social skills, forging lasting connections, and embracing school traditions. Our experts implement the Expanded Core Curriculum, delivering customized instruction in academics, independent living, technology, and vocational training. Perkins’ impact extends beyond campus with itinerant teachers providing services across New England, a Transition Center preparing students nationwide for college and the workforce, and CVI Now equipping parents with crucial tools and knowledge. Globally, Perkins-trained educators are changing lives in almost 100 countries. Join us in creating a world of inclusion, accessibility, and endless opportunities for children with disabilities. Discover more at Perkins.org or contact Admissions@Perkins.org.
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Perkins School for the Blind is the school you can trust to deliver the very best education and services for your child. Perkins serves students with visual impairments, including CVI, deafblindness, CHARGE, and multiple disabilities, from birth to age 22. We offer day and residential programs on our historic campus, and we integrate the Expanded Core Curriculum across all learning opportunities as well as emphasize instruction in self-determination, self-advocacy, and critical social skills. Helping your student is our #1 priority. Reach out to us at Admissions@Perkins.org!
An innovative take on college and career readiness planning, Compass is a nine-month virtual program for college-aspiring high school students – designed to help them proactively develop a plan for building the critical academic and blindness skills they need to reach their post-secondary goals. Through group work and individual coaching for the student and their educational team, Compass works to fill the often-overlooked gaps in college and career preparation. For more information and to begin the application process, email CollegeSuccess@Perkins.org.
PathFinder offers enrichment opportunities for high school students aiming for meaningful employment after graduation. The program covers such pre-employment topics as self-determination, job exploration, and workplace readiness training – fostering independence and creating crucial connections in the process. Through skills assessments, virtual group sessions, monthly one-on-one virtual meetings, and unique in-person workplace explorations in the Boston area, PathFinder raises a student’s understanding of their interests and what types of work roles and settings are well matched to their needs. Email Transition@Perkins.org to learn more.
Life Launch is an innovative, multi-faceted program that prepares young adults ages 18 to 22 who are blind or visually impaired and have diverse learning differences for independent living. Through the immersive, five-day school year residential program, Life Launch students will work on such skills as communication, problem-solving, time management, and more and apply them to real-life internships, job shadowing opportunities, and community service experiences in order to build a strong foundation for independent living and employment readiness. Students will receive personal mentoring along the way as well as transition counseling and support in the years after graduation, ensuring continued success. Contact Transition@Perkins.org to learn more.
Perkins School for the Blind is leading the way in the quest to support families that are learning more about a CVI diagnosis. Cerebral/Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI) is a brain-based visual impairment caused by damage to the visual pathways or visual processing areas of the brain. CVI is the leading cause of visual impairment in children in the United States. Every individual with CVI, no matter their zip code or how their CVI manifests, has a right to early diagnosis, accessible educational services, and comprehensive, effective vision services. CVI Now is here to empower families and professionals with deep and evolving CVI knowledge, resources, and tools rooted in current research and the lived experiences of people with CVI. Learn more today!
Perkins Community Programs support children with visual impairments and deafblindness, their families, and school districts across New England. Our Infant-Toddler Program is the first point of contact for every family in Massachusetts following their child’s diagnosis, and we provide them with specialty services, education, guidance, and emotional support. Once a child reaches school age, our expert teachers and specialists can partner with their school to help them access their curriculum and incorporate skills like independent living and navigation into their school day. Additionally, our Outreach Short Courses provide fun, accessible and educational opportunities to more than 1,200 children of all ages. Contact us at Community.Programs@Perkins.org.
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At Perkins, we really enjoy the start of a new school year. Not only do we get to welcome back our returning students, but we get to meet some new ones as well! Our staff, students, and families are here for you. We want to show you around and make sure you feel at home.
Information provided in the online directory on this website is intended to provide a guide to businesses, organizations, and resources that support the special education community. The Council for Exceptional Children or any of its employees neither endorse, warrant, nor guarantee the products or services advertised in the directory. The information provided in each listing on this website is published as obtained from external sources that provide the information.