Perkins School for the Blind
At Perkins School for the Blind, we help children with disabilities and visual impairments find their place in the world.
As the first school for the blind in the U.S. – founded on the radical belief that every child can learn – Perkins has been an advocate for children with disabilities from the beginning.
Our continuum of services addresses every need, ability and age – from infancy through college prep. On our campus, we have been developing and delivering best practices in education to students with complex visual impairments and multiple disabilities for nearly 200 years.
Honoring a legacy that has transformed millions of lives worldwide, Perkins provides the insight and empathy required to empower children with disabilities; serving 200 children on campus, 2,000 throughout Massachusetts, and 2 million globally.
At the heart of everything we do is a single goal: prepare children with disabilities for the world while preparing the world for those children.
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Perkins is a trusted leader in specialized education for children with complex visual impairments and multiple disabilities. Since our founding in 1829, we have pioneered educational best practices, serving students - including those with Cerebral/Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI), deafblindness, and CHARGE - from birth through age 22. Through customized day and residential programs on our historic campus, the Expanded Core Curriculum is woven into daily life, equipping students with essential skills in self-determination, self-advocacy, and social interaction. Ensuring children reach their full potential is our #1 priority.
As the first point of contact for any child in Massachusetts diagnosed with a visual impairment or deafblindness, Perkins provides vital early intervention services, education and support to families. Our teachers develop individualized activities and lessons to reach children where they are – on our campus, at home, in the community and remotely – creating lifelong connections with the families we serve.
Perkins offers fun, educational and accessible weekend, week-long, and summer programs to public school students across the U.S. who are blind or visually impaired. From intensive life-skills training and internships to sports camps and music production, these immersive experiences foster deep independence and create essential social opportunities.
Perkins is a global leader in conducting research, building tools and creating a community of advocacy around Cerebral/Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI), the leading cause of childhood blindness. Often misunderstood, it’s estimated that less than 20% of CVI cases have a diagnosis. We help children with CVI learn to access their world and define their success through timely diagnosis, targeted interventions, trained educators, and effective services and education.
The leap from high school to young adulthood is significant for children with disabilities and visual impairments. Perkins’ transition services support students, families, and educators with tailored programs, monthly events, and expert resources that give everyone the tools to plan confidently for a future that aligns with students’ individual goals.
Translating nearly 200 years of hands-on classroom expertise into accessible online courses, Perkins Academy provides next-level, specialized training for educators worldwide who teach children with complex visual impairments. These specialized professional development courses—including the Perkins CVI Certificate—equip teachers with evidence-based strategies, holistic instructional planning, and practical tools to effectively nurture and elevate students with disabilities.
The Perkins Braille Bloom™ is an innovative, plug-and-play add-on that connects the classic Perkins Brailler directly to the digital world. Syncing wirelessly via Bluetooth, it provides instant braille-to-text translation on any screen. This revolutionary tool enables real-time communication and collaboration between students, their families, and educators, enhancing classroom participation and virtual learning.
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Discover how Perkins' innovative, individualized programming unlocks opportunity for children who are blind, deafblind, or low-vision, including those with multiple disabilities.
Join us for the annual Early Connections Conference, an event that celebrates the idea that every child, family, and professional deserves meaningful connections to the supports, resources, and inclusive practices they need to grow and succeed.
Designed for teachers by teachers: Perkins Academy offers asynchronous online courses based on proven practical strategies, addressing such topics as CVI, active learning, AAC systems, and more.
Learn more about Cerebral/Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI), a leading cause of childhood blindness and low vision that's often misunderstood, overlooked, and undiagnosed.
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