THE LanternP E R K I N S S C H O O L F O R T H E B L I N D | S P R I N G 1 0

The Journey to Independence Beyond Perkins

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

For many young people the path of learning is guided by a dream ndash a dream of what may be possible of what the future may hold That dream might revolve around becoming a doctor a scientist a writer or an artist

At Perkins our students have many of the same dreams But here the path of learning encompasses so much more Not only do our students take biology math and music courses to strive for their career goals they also work with orientation and mobility teachers to learn how to walk independently with a cane Some practice work skills through onshy and offshycampus internships reinforcing social skills and a sense of responsibility Many learn how to read and write in braille to increase their communication skills and their chances of securing employment after school

Our students on campus are not the only ones with dreams of career and a future We also offer support to public school children who may need additional educational services or advocacy in their community We encourage learning and literacy for individuals around the globe by providing extensive materials from our Braille amp Talking Book Library Perkins Braillers and other tools from Perkins Products We reach educators everywhere by providing training webcasts and more through our Training and Educational Resources Program And we work closely with hundreds of partners around the world to not only teach life skills to people who are blind and deafblind but to give them work experiences and knowledge so they can provide for themselves and their families

For all of these individuals the goal is the same to live a fulfilling happy life

Perkins is only the means to reach that goal Here is a glimpse into what it takes to launch those dreams

Sincerely

Steven M Rothstein President Perkins School for the Blind

Officers of the Corporation amp

Board of Trustees

Chair of the Board Frederic M Clifford

Vice Chairs of the Board Linda DiBenedetto William A Lowell Andrea Lamp Peabody

Chair of the Corporation C Richard Carlson

Treasurer Charles CJ Platt Assistant Treasurer Randy E Kinard

Secretary Charles A Cheever

Board of Trustees C Richard Carlson

Andrew W Chapman MD Frederic M Clifford

Elizabeth Cabral Curtis

Linda DiBenedetto

Edward G Fey PhDBrenda J Furlong

William D Gamelli

Paul S Goodof Corinne Grousbeck Thomas Hehir

Janet B James

Philip L Ladd William A Lowell

Greg J Pappas

Andrea Lamp Peabody Charles CJ Platt

W David Power Paul Raia

Appointed by the Governor of the Commonwealth

contents The Lantern Spring 2010 Volume LXXIX Number 2

CAMPUS 04 Service with a smile

06 From Washington DC to Watertown Mass 06 On the clock

07 A new perspective

COMMUNITY 08 Personifying possibility

10 Spanning the miles

11 Outreach Services lauds accomplishmentsof Strategies for Life

11 Friend us

PERKINS LANDSCAPE 12 Upward bound15 Al Gayzagian ndash A tribute

AROUND THE WORLD 16 Coming of age

18 Learning as they grow

PERKINS 20 Next Generation Perkins Brailler gets nod for Good Design

21 Letter from the Trust 22 More than one way to give

22 Calendar 23 Runner 70 pounds pavement to support

braille literacy

laquo

Save paper by receiving The Lantern by email Sign up at httpsupportperkinsorglantern

Cover Students Sidney and Nathan serve up coffee at the Hilton Cafeacute part of the Deafblind Programrsquos vocational training

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

For many young people the path of learning is guided by a dream ndash a dream of what may be possible of what the future may hold That dream might revolve around becoming a doctor a scientist a writer or an artist

At Perkins our students have many of the same dreams But here the path of learning encompasses so much more Not only do our students take biology math and music courses to strive for their career goals they also work with orientation and mobility teachers to learn how to walk independently with a cane Some practice work skills through onshy and offshycampus internships reinforcing social skills and a sense of responsibility Many learn how to read and write in braille to increase their communication skills and their chances of securing employment after school

Our students on campus are not the only ones with dreams of career and a future We also offer support to public school children who may need additional educational services or advocacy in their community We encourage learning and literacy for individuals around the globe by providing extensive materials from our Braille amp Talking Book Library Perkins Braillers and other tools from Perkins Products We reach educators everywhere by providing training webcasts and more through our Training and Educational Resources Program And we work closely with hundreds of partners around the world to not only teach life skills to people who are blind and deafblind but to give them work experiences and knowledge so they can provide for themselves and their families

For all of these individuals the goal is the same to live a fulfilling happy life

Perkins is only the means to reach that goal Here is a glimpse into what it takes to launch those dreams

Sincerely

Steven M Rothstein President Perkins School for the Blind

Officers of the Corporation amp

Board of Trustees

Chair of the Board Frederic M Clifford

Vice Chairs of the Board Linda DiBenedetto William A Lowell Andrea Lamp Peabody

Chair of the Corporation C Richard Carlson

Treasurer Charles CJ Platt Assistant Treasurer Randy E Kinard

Secretary Charles A Cheever

Board of Trustees C Richard Carlson

Andrew W Chapman MD Frederic M Clifford

Elizabeth Cabral Curtis

Linda DiBenedetto

Edward G Fey PhDBrenda J Furlong

William D Gamelli

Paul S Goodof Corinne Grousbeck Thomas Hehir

Janet B James

Philip L Ladd William A Lowell

Greg J Pappas

Andrea Lamp Peabody Charles CJ Platt

W David Power Paul Raia

Appointed by the Governor of the Commonwealth

contents The Lantern Spring 2010 Volume LXXIX Number 2

CAMPUS 04 Service with a smile

06 From Washington DC to Watertown Mass 06 On the clock

07 A new perspective

COMMUNITY 08 Personifying possibility

10 Spanning the miles

11 Outreach Services lauds accomplishmentsof Strategies for Life

11 Friend us

PERKINS LANDSCAPE 12 Upward bound15 Al Gayzagian ndash A tribute

AROUND THE WORLD 16 Coming of age

18 Learning as they grow

PERKINS 20 Next Generation Perkins Brailler gets nod for Good Design

21 Letter from the Trust 22 More than one way to give

22 Calendar 23 Runner 70 pounds pavement to support

braille literacy

laquo

Save paper by receiving The Lantern by email Sign up at httpsupportperkinsorglantern

Cover Students Sidney and Nathan serve up coffee at the Hilton Cafeacute part of the Deafblind Programrsquos vocational training

Samantha reads to younger students using her braille notetaker

The weekly story time helps everyone to unwind at the end of the day

4 The Lantern

campus

Service with a smile New graduation requirement teaches students the value of giving back

Shortly after the supper plates arecleared in the Lower School a handful

of young students trickle into thecommon room at Anagnos Cottage They settle onto a couch grab a

blanket or pull up some rug

And Secondary Program student Samantha sweeps them off to the adventures of a curious muchshyloved

character in juvenile fiction in the form of Beverly Clearyrsquos ldquoRamona Quimby Age 8rdquo

ldquoItrsquos so greatrdquo said Samantha 20 who is blind and has led the weekly story time since last fall She reads for half an hour from her notetaker fingertips gliding over the bar of refreshable braille While the younger students could easily listen to a story by popping a cassette or digital cartridge into an audio player Samantha enjoys providing the human touch ldquoTheyrsquore attentive They laugh at all the right places Itrsquos so much funrdquo

While Samantha loves reading ndash shersquos recently been burying her own nose in ldquoMy Life in Francerdquo by Julia Child and often spends as many as four hours per day reading for schoolwork and personal enjoyment ndash shersquos also fulfilling a new community service graduation requirement for all Secondary Program students

ldquoOne way for students to mature is by realizing they can provide a service for other peoplerdquo said Kathy Bull a teacher in the Secondary Program who is working with Samantha She has led student community service projects in her Adult Living class in prior years before it became a programshywide requirement

ldquoCommunity service is a way to have a jobshylike experience without having to go through as formal a processrdquo she added

Current economy aside it can be difficult for young people to find jobs in the community especially for those

who are visually impaired or blind said Secondary Program Education Director Cynthia Essex Volunteering is a way to gain experience and exposure while building contacts and skills

ldquoIrsquom always reminding students that itrsquos not just that you get a job to liverdquo she said ldquoYou get a job to have a life Itrsquos the social contacts ndash itrsquos feeling like you have something reasonable to do in your life that will benefit someonerdquo

Samantha who will graduate this spring and attend St Anselm College in Manchester NH in the fall to study languages hopes to work some day as an interpreter But in the meantime she says she has already learned a lot from her service project and she plans to keep her community service going after she graduates from Perkins perhaps by reading to children in a local public library

ldquoThe community service requirement is teaching students responsibility and to give backrdquo she said ldquoI hope other Secondary students will take their experiences and put them on their resumes and keep working on it in their communityrdquo

wwwPerkinsorg 5

campus

Alum Chris Jett accepts a thankshyyou note from former President Clinton delivered by Perkins President Steven Rothstein

From Washington DC to Watertown Mass

Intelligent witty and conversant Perkins alum Chris Jett makes a lasting impression on everyone ndash including former President Bill Clinton

Jett met Clinton nearly 13 years ago when he traveled to Washington

DC with his Perkins teachers to attend the signing of the 1997 reauthorization of the Individuals

with Disabilities Education ActHe conversed with Clinton and

surprised security officers by placinghis hand on the presidentrsquos face to

use Tadoma also known as tactilelipshyreading

Jett who is now 23 and living independently in Brighton Mass had written an autobiography about his time at Perkins which Perkins President Steven Rothstein delivered to the former president last year at the Clinton Global Initiativersquos Annual Meeting in New York Clinton apparently enjoyed the gift as he sent a personal signed thankshyyou note to Jett recently

ldquoI was very surprised but also pleasedrdquo said Jett touched that Clinton still remembered their meeting ldquoI was happy that he got the book I want him to know that he is an important person in my liferdquo

6 The Lantern

Deafblind Program student Katie rewinds audio tapes returned by patrons at the Braille amp Talking Book Library

On the clock

Shersquos only 18 but already Katie has worked at a library a snack store an office and a craft workshop The exposure organized by the Deafblind Program is designed to provide her with the skills responsibility and versatility shersquoll need to hold a job after she leaves Perkins

ldquoI like to look at the books (and read the titles)rdquo she said recently working

to rewind cassette tapes for patrons at the Braille amp Talking Book Library on Perkinsrsquo campus

The goals of the vocational program are as varied as the students themshyselves but each experience is aimed at helping a student learn to work with their personal abilities like learning to focus on a task or follow directions And then there are

rules of the workplace that any young person with or without special needs must master like wearing a uniform and arriving on time

ldquoTheyrsquore learning what they need to put their best foot forwardrdquo said Christa Gicklhorn vocational coordinating teacher

The wide variety of vocational training opportunities in the Deafblind Program also includes the Hilton Cafeacute ndash a hip coffee stop where staff and students can purchase refreshments while student workers practice greeting customers taking orders and handling money

ldquoShe has to learn the beginning middle and end of an activityrdquo said Andrea Covelli a teacher who supervised Sidney17 while she restocked sugars and straws at the cafeacute

ldquoItrsquos a jobrdquo added Mary Zatta assistant director of education for the Deafblind Program ldquoItrsquos a chance for our students to learn what responsibility is all aboutrdquo

A new perspective

The New England Eye Low Vision Clinic at Perkins is one of the few clinics in the region that serves patients of all ages with multiple disabilities But the importance of that distinction truly becomes clear when it is manifested in a young person who goes to the clinic for her firstshyever eye exam

Such was the recent case with one student from the Carter School in Boston recalled Paula Honzik a teacher of students with visual impairment and an orientation and mobility instructor with the Boston Public Schools

ldquoThey found she was nearshysighted and glasses were prescribed for herrdquo she said ldquoTo see her suddenly react

visually to things was amazing ndash to see how much she looked aroundrdquo

The clinic is specially designed to accommodate individuals of all abilities said Darick Wright clinic coordinator Ultimately the goal is to improve patientsrsquo quality of life and increase their independence

The clinic also provides low vision solutions to Perkins classrooms Jeanne Fleming teacher of students with visual impairments in the Secondary Program recently received a new video magnifier

ldquoItrsquos so much easier for him to userdquo said Fleming of student Ariel who uses it to read short assignmentsldquoHe can do this completely independently nowrdquo

wwwPerkinsorg 7

community

Jaimi Lard uses tactile sign language to converse with her interpreter Christine Dwyer

Personifying possibilityJaimi Lardrsquos life is success story of independence

She stands in the midst of a swirling crowd of visitors each waiting their turn to shake her hand introduce themselves and hear her story As Perkinsrsquo official spokesperson Jaimi Lard is used to appearances and answering questions But public

speaking is only the beginning of her professional skills Lard worked in health care for 13 years delivering mail and transporting blood samples at Brigham and Womenrsquos Hospital before she returned to Perkins in 2000 as spokesperson ndash a post

that has given her contact with celebrities and wellshyknown politicians as well as school groups and historians among others

The glamour of her role aside Lard relishes many things the rest of us consider ordinary mdash like residing independently going to work and paying taxes ldquoI feel fortunate and luckyrdquo said Lard through an interpreter ldquoI am proud that I have an apartment and a real job and that I am able to contribute to others by paying taxesrdquo

Taxes fund so many of the services that make independent life possible for people who are disabled Lard knows the value of that assistance as someone who has been a recipient of stateshyfunded services During these tough economic times Lard has taken her message of gratitude to legislators and the press mdash speaking passionately at legislative hearings and other public forums

and writing opinion pieces that address the need for funding of services for the blind and the deaf

Lard does not consider any of this extraordinary rather she feels it is her civic duty ldquoI have benefited so much from resources that are funded by taxes It is my hope that others will get the same types of support but that can only happen if funding for these programs continuerdquo she said

Advocating for others is one way that Lard is leaving a legacy The other is through her public speaking duties where the potential to educate kids about deafblindness allows her to showcase possibility ldquoI love the way children get so fascinated ndash maybe because of the sign languagerdquo she said ldquoIrsquom glad that they wonrsquot grow up thinking lsquoOh poor blind people canrsquotrsquordquo

To book Lard for a speaking engagement please visit wwwspeakingmattersorg

8 The Lantern

Lard tells visitors about Perkins during a recent tour for the Lions Club

wwwPerkinsorg 9

community

Itinerant teacher Charlene Laferrera works with Will at his home

Spanning the miles Itinerant teachers go the distance to bring services to students

As school districts and communities across the state continue to struggle to fund the cost of special education Perkins continues its mission to support those public schools students with visual impairment blindness or deafblindness and their teachers

The Educational Partnerships Program sends itinerant or traveling teachers to infants and students all over Massachusetts with the goal of giving every young person the best start possible said Tom Miller education director

ldquoFor infants we want to work on developmental issues as soon as possiblerdquo he said ldquoWorking with families at that young age gives them a support network they can use going forward For schoolshyage

kids we want to extend appropriate levels of service to children with multiple disabilities with the goal being that theyrsquoll reach as high a level of independence as they possibly canrdquo

The Educational Partnerships Program which employs 44 teachers provides services to as many as 900 infants toddlers and schoolshyage children per year

For Bethany Adams a new itinerant teacher the training and support available to educators like her ndash as well as the schoolrsquos studentshyfirst philosophy ndash is what led her to apply for the job

ldquoItrsquos the training and mentorship Every single person I have come into contact with here has said lsquoWhat can I do for yoursquordquo she said ldquoThere is a lot Perkins has to offer everybodyrdquo

10 The Lantern

Outreach Services lauds accomplishments of Strategies for Life

Outreach Servicesrsquo Strategies for Life which includes the Elder Learning Center will end July 1 as Perkins refocuses its resources on other efforts

Strategies for Life provided individuals age 55 and older and their caregivers with numerous opportunities for education and more Outreach Services Director Beth Caruso and her staff offered individualized instruction and group classes for clients and trainings for caregivers and families on campus and in the community that were always focused on safety independence and

techniques to cope with blindness and vision impairment

ldquoThese programs filled a real need in the area among older individualsrdquo said Caruso who credited much of the programrsquos success to rehabilitation specialists Debby Smith and Reneacutee Man as well as others who gave their time and talents to the program ldquoEveryone at Outreach is sad to see this influential program come to an end but we are happy to have touched so many individuals who experienced a better quality of life improved independence and greater happiness as a resultrdquo

Friend us

Keep up with the latest news and events from Perkins School for the Blind as you do with your friends and family ndash on Facebook Our page growing every day with new fans is located at

wwwfacebookcomofficialperkins Tell us what yoursquod like to see

Tune in You can also watch captivating student performances educational webcasts and other Perkins videos

by clicking on the Perkins YouTube Channel located at

wwwyoutubecomPSB1829

As always check out wwwPerkinsorg to read about school news and events and to find an inshydepth collection of information about our programs on campus in the community and around the world as well as educational strategies advocacy help and more

wwwPerkinsorg 11

The steel beams of the new structure are superimposed over the historic Lower School in the background

12 The Lantern

Perkins landscape

Upward bound As new Lower School building goes up students receive rare education in construction process

Frozen ground and snow havenrsquot stood in the way of progress at the new Lower School where the construction site continues to hum with the activity of backhoes ironshyworkers and the pouring of concrete

The $30 million project which will build a new Lower School featuring accessible classrooms a larger gymnasium and dining hall and cuttingshyedge technology is on track for completion by the end of the year The beginning of 2011 will jumpstart the second phase of the project which will renovate the existing Lower School building to improve its accessibility while preserving its architectural beauty and character

And as they have since breaking ground last November Perkins and Shawmut Design and Construction continue finding ways to make not only the final product accessible but also the noisy muddy construction process itself

Students teachers and staff filled the existing Lower School gymnasium recently to receive a lively update on the project from the construction workers themselves With the foundation poured and the steel frame erected the construction site is slowly becoming recognizable for what it will be ndash a brandshynew school

Mike Mallett senior project superintendent for Shawmut broke down the project for students with an analogy

ldquoI like to relate the new building to a human bodyrdquo he explained ldquoYou have your feet that you stand on ndash in the building they call it footing Yoursquove got your bones inside you that hold you together ndash thatrsquos what wersquore doing outside right now putting the bones of the building up Itrsquos called structural steelrdquo

Mallett and Rob Hair education director of the Lower School and Early Learning Center also unveiled a new tactile construction board ndash a length of wall where students can touch samples of materials ranging from rebar to cement to plastic piping which Mallett will update through each phase of the project

Before they went up on the wall Mallett passed those samples around the gymnasium allowing each student to explore the texture and weight

ldquoCoolrdquo said Lower School student Zachary 11 holding a piece of foundation drain pipe He poked his fingers into the ends of the plastic and listened to teacher Becky Hoffman explain how its design allows water to drain through

wwwPerkinsorg 13

Student Amalia helps to hang construction materials on the tactile board

Perkins landscape

ldquoIs this the real thingrdquo he asked impressed

In the coming months as the weather improves Mallett plans to tour small groups of students through the construction site giving them an upshyclose look at the building where they will study eat and play next year Students who have listened to the banging and beeping outside their windows for months also plan to perform a concert featuring ldquoconstruction soundsrdquo and construction workers hope to make guest appearances in classrooms from time to time for lessons and conversation about construction

ldquoWhat an inspiration to the studentsrdquo

said Hair ldquoThis project will give them a handsshyon experience that few children ever have no matter where they go to school They will learn not only about their new schoolhouse but about how all buildings are made Mike Mallett and the Shawmut crew are wonderful partnersrdquo

The interaction with students makes this project a uniquely enjoyable one for Shawmut Mallett said

ldquoI didnrsquot realize how involved the kids wanted to be at firstrdquo said Mallett ldquoJust the look on their faces and the interest they had ndash it really got me interested in involving them any way I can The bottom line this is all for themrdquo

The Lantern 14

Al Gayzagian ndash A tribute

From walking through the schoolgates as a kindergarten student to serving as a member of the Board

of Trustees Albert Gayzagian whopassed away in January devoted

decades of his life to Perkins Schoolfor the Blind

His was a gentle yet influentialpresence at Perkins paired with a

sense of humor an untiring workethic and a zeal for learning new things His family brought him to

Perkins in 1931 at age 5 realizingtheir son was visually impaired Six subsequent surgeries did not save

Gayzagianrsquos sight and he remainedat Perkins through the eighth grade

learning braille and writing with aslate and stylus He appreciated the value of the education he received

at Perkins right from the start

I still remember my very first dayrdquosaid Gayzagian in a 2005 interview ldquoI did have some excitement some

feeling of excitement that I was goingto embark on something newrdquo

After moving on to public high

school and eventually graduatingfrom Harvard University Gayzagian found work as a typist at John

Hancock where he ultimatelyrose to the level of a senior official overseeing corporate planning

Gayzagian married Betty Murby who had attended Perkins alongside her

future husband and the couple lived in Watertown with their two children

Despite a busy career and family lifesomething always brought Gayzagian

back to his school stomping groundsGayzagian became the first blind member of the Perkins Board of

Trustees in 1976 where he volunteeredhis time and shared his experience in a multitude of ways In addition toserving as a Trustee Gayzagian also served on Perkinsrsquo Alumni Board

holding several executive offices Hewas a board member of the National Braille Press the Massachusetts

Association for the Blind and the BayState Council of the Blind along

with many other roles in additionalorganizations His perspective wisdom and wit will be greatly missed

wwwPerkinsorg 15

A student places portions of food on a plate as part of a lesson in foodshyservice skills in the Philippines

16 The Lantern

A teacher guides her student in the kitchen

around the world

Coming of age As children grow up transition programs in Philippines acquaint them with the adult world

With her very first paycheck she wanted to buy her grandmother a hamburger

For Yves 23 years old and visually

impaired it was a simple yet meanshyingful goal ndash full of accomplishment pride and a sense of belonging to the

adult world

Mila Wayno remembers it well As a rehabilitation specialist for Resources for the Blind in the Philippines Wayno had worked with the young woman since she was a toddler of 3 years Yves had grown up with assistance from RBI and as a young adult recently joined the organizationrsquos fledgling transition program ndash a new program founded just three years ago to develop new vocational social and recreational services for the children who are visually impaired or blind with multiple disabilities ndash who were growing up

ldquoWith the first income she got she said lsquoI will buy a hamburger for my grandmotherrsquordquo recalled Wayno ldquoAnd she was really very happy when she was buying onerdquo

Transition programs for adolescents and young adults are a fairly new concept in the Philippines where basic therapies and services for individuals who are blind and visually impaired are still not easily accessible or affordable Today with the help of a twoshyyear grant from the United States Agency for International Development Perkinsrsquo partners RBI and Parent Advocates for Visually Impaired Children or PAVIC are working to grow transition programs for these young adults as well as increase familiesrsquo awareness of the possibilities for their children The goal is to take the services these individuals received as young children ndash orientation and mobility lessons selfshycare and feeding or basic communication skills ndash and to bring them to the next level so these individuals can strive for a level of

independence and happiness and participation in their community as adults

ldquoSome of our children reach 20 years old and they have never received this kind of servicerdquo said Francis Choy chairman of the board of trustees for PAVIC ldquoThe parents never know They just accept what their child can do and what they do not know how to do But if some proper intervention is being done the quality of life for their children can really improverdquo

PAVIC organizes parents and helps them advocate for their childrenrsquos rights to education and services

ldquoIf we do nothing for our children nothing will happen for themrdquo he said

wwwPerkinsorg 17

A student places portions of food on a plate as part of a lesson in foodshyservice skills in the Philippines

16 The Lantern

A teacher guides her student in the kitchen

around the world

Coming of age As children grow up transition programs in Philippines acquaint them with the adult world

With her very first paycheck she wanted to buy her grandmother a hamburger

For Yves 23 years old and visually

impaired it was a simple yet meanshyingful goal ndash full of accomplishment pride and a sense of belonging to the

adult world

Mila Wayno remembers it well As a rehabilitation specialist for Resources for the Blind in the Philippines Wayno had worked with the young woman since she was a toddler of 3 years Yves had grown up with assistance from RBI and as a young adult recently joined the organizationrsquos fledgling transition program ndash a new program founded just three years ago to develop new vocational social and recreational services for the children who are visually impaired or blind with multiple disabilities ndash who were growing up

ldquoWith the first income she got she said lsquoI will buy a hamburger for my grandmotherrsquordquo recalled Wayno ldquoAnd she was really very happy when she was buying onerdquo

Transition programs for adolescents and young adults are a fairly new concept in the Philippines where basic therapies and services for individuals who are blind and visually impaired are still not easily accessible or affordable Today with the help of a twoshyyear grant from the United States Agency for International Development Perkinsrsquo partners RBI and Parent Advocates for Visually Impaired Children or PAVIC are working to grow transition programs for these young adults as well as increase familiesrsquo awareness of the possibilities for their children The goal is to take the services these individuals received as young children ndash orientation and mobility lessons selfshycare and feeding or basic communication skills ndash and to bring them to the next level so these individuals can strive for a level of

independence and happiness and participation in their community as adults

ldquoSome of our children reach 20 years old and they have never received this kind of servicerdquo said Francis Choy chairman of the board of trustees for PAVIC ldquoThe parents never know They just accept what their child can do and what they do not know how to do But if some proper intervention is being done the quality of life for their children can really improverdquo

PAVIC organizes parents and helps them advocate for their childrenrsquos rights to education and services

ldquoIf we do nothing for our children nothing will happen for themrdquo he said

wwwPerkinsorg 17

A young man who is deaf and adjusting to loss of vision from Usherrsquos Syndrome learns new methods of communication as part of the Perkins International partner program in Peru

around the world

Learning as they grow Perkins International and Latin American partners work together to define concept of transition programs

When the concept of transition began developing in Latin America approximately five years ago many agencies had different interpretations of what transition should mean in their countries Thanks to the help of Perkins Internationalrsquos partners administrators parents and teachers across all countries of Latin America now have a more universal holistic definition of what transition means

ldquoTransition involves the person who is visually impaired blind or deafblind

and connecting them from school to adult liferdquo said Steve Perreault coordinator of Latin America projects for Perkins International ldquoWe now have a regional dialogue and people are connected across countries and sharing success and program models Itrsquos aliverdquo

Aurea Soza knows firsthand the importance of carrying programs for children who are visually impaired blind or deafblind to the next step She started a program called Sullai

for her daughter Rupe who was born deafblind Perkins International has since supported Sullai with training and resources But seven years ago Soza realized it was time to adapt those services to support and reflect Rupersquos transition to adulthood

ldquoIt was very important to start to see Rupe as an adultrdquo said Soza with the help of interpreter Graciela Ferioli Latin America Regional Representative in a recent interview At 27 Rupe especially enjoys going to the discoteque and the cinema ndash events the family has worked into Rupersquos transition program to acknowledge and encourage her own preferences and social development

Sozarsquos transition program begins by meeting with the student and the family to learn about the studentrsquos

personality likes and dislikes and the familyrsquos dreams for the future

ldquoAccording to their needs and dreams we make a plan for each student of activities we are going to developrdquo she said

Those activities range from vocational experience such as working in a shopping mall stocking and cleaning shelves or learning to make bread or salad at a participating local school Participants also experience farm work feeding animals and working in gardens And social events include fun time such as swimming

The underlying theme Soza says is the effort to acquaint each student with their peers and the outside world

ldquoAll the activities happen in the communityrdquo she said ldquoThey are developing a futurerdquo

18 The Lantern

2010 Perkins Possibilities Gala

Thursday May 6 2010 bull 600 ndash 930 pm

Music merriment amp possibility at a cocktail reception and dinner hosted at our

beautiful campus

Gala CoshyChairsCorinne amp Wyc Grousbeck

For more information contact Emily Goodman at 617shy972shy7583 or emilygoodmanperkinsorg or visit wwwperkinsorggala

wwwPerkinsorg 19

Perkins

A student reviews the text he has written on the redesigned Brailler

Next Generationtrade Perkins Braillerreg

gets nod for ldquoGood Designrdquo The Next Generation Perkins Brailler developed and manufactured by Perkins School for the Blind received the ldquoGood Design Awardrdquo for 2009 ndash an acknowledgement of the Braillerrsquos new streamlined look lighter weight and ease of use The Good Design Award was presented to 500 designers and makers of products ranging from a Mars Landing Rover created for a 2030 NASA Mars Space Mission to a water purification system for rural South African villages

The Next Generation Brailler is a redesign of the classic Perkins Brailler which was introduced in 1951 The Next Generation Brailler was launched

domestically in October of 2008 and recently became available internationally

ldquoWe are immensely proud of the new Brailler design In modernizing a beloved classic we introduce a whole new generation of students young adults and longshytime users to a lighter smaller and easiershytoshyuse Perkins Braillerrdquo said David Morgan general manager of Perkins Products ldquoOur greatest hope is that the new Brailler helps spark continued interest and education in braille for young people and adults here and around the worldrdquo

To learn more about the Next Generation Perkins Brailler visit wwwPerkinsbraillerorg

20 The Lantern

LETTER FROM THE TRUST

The Perkins family has always been about going the distance From our dedicated teachers and staff encouraging our students to challenge themselves in new ways to our parents friends and volunteers supporting our initiatives with their ideas time and donations our shared goal remains the same to offer those we impact the most independent fulfilling life possible

This season the Perkins Marathon team is an excellent example of this spirit Seventeen individuals have committed to push through 262 miles to raise funds that are critical to continue making all things possible at Perkins We thank them for their dedication and pledge to raise $140000 from friends and family and we pledge to help them raise funds from the entire Perkins community to reach $200000

Since joining the Perkins family in late October Irsquove witnessed this remarkable commitment to go the distance in so many ways Communication portfolios created by our students in the Deafblind Program are an amazing tool designed to help these individuals prepare for their future beyond Perkins whether it be in landing a job a volunteer position or creating new relationships with their peers and community Our Lower School construction and renovation project is another example Perkinsrsquo decision to build a school that will better meet its studentsrsquo needs now and far into the future shows an unwavering commitment to helping our students make the transition into confident selfshyassured adults I am thrilled to be part of an institution that I consider to be the best in its class

Thank you for being part of the Perkins legacy ndash and a part of its future

Warm wishes

Kathy Sheehan Executive Director of the Trust

The Perkins Trust Chair Perkins Trust

Corinne Grousbeck

Trust Board

Katherine Chapman

Frederic M Clifford John J Doran Janet B James

Philip L Ladd

Jon L Luther David B Mazza

Joseph J OrsquoDonnellWilliam Schawbel

wwwPerkinsorg 21

22 The Lantern

Perkins

More than one way to give Wallace Kountze canrsquot remember exactly how Perkins School for the Blind first came to his attention But when it did it ldquocame with a bangrdquo

ldquoWe volunteered two or three times and we were hookedrdquo he remembered

Since then Kountze and his wife Claretta of Medford have helped out in a variety of ways at Perkins But the couple decided they wanted to make an even greater impact They have made Annual Gifts several times in recent years and have also provided for Perkins via their will

ldquoItrsquos very important that those of us who can make a contribution financial or otherwise do sordquo said Kountze ldquoBecause these are very trying times for nonprofits in particularrdquo

To learn more about giving contact Alleather Toure at 617shy972shy7680 or eshymail her at AlleatherTourePerkinsorg

calendar MAY

Thursday May 6

2010 Perkins Possibilities Gala

Thursday May 27

Educational Leadership Program Graduation

JUNE

Friday June 18 Graduation Exercises

Friday June 18 ndashSaturday June 19

Alumni Weekend

Sunday June 20Vision 5K

HONOR MOM AND SUPPORT

PERKINS SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND

GIVE $100 and wersquoll send your mom the ldquoPerkins Sensory Bouquetrdquo

from A Whole Bunch Flower Market anywhere in the US

GIVE $15 online and wersquoll send your mom a set of note cards

featuring student art

SEND A FREE personalizedMotherrsquos Day eshycard featuring student art

To send an eshycard or make a gift visit wwwPerkinsorggivemothersshyday

or call Jennifer Volpe at 617shy972shy7667

Runner 70 pounds pavement to support braille literacy

Perkins Trust Board member Bill Schawbel doesnrsquot like parties He doesnrsquot like gifts much either So when his 70th birthday was approaching this spring the twoshytime Boston Marathoner came up with a unique

way to celebrate take on the 262shymile run as part of the Perkins Marathon Team and challenge the community to help him raise $70000 in support of braille literacy and Perkinsrsquo overall $200000 marathon goal

ldquoThe goal is to make a difference for a person who is blind ndash who if they are literate most likely will be socially and economically independentrdquo he said

According to a study by the American Foundation for the Blind of the people who are blind and employed 90 percent are braille literate

While Schawbel has not run the Marathon since age 50 he said hersquos enjoying the struggle to ldquolearn to run againrdquo

ldquoMy first goal is to raise the money The second is to stay healthyrdquo said Schawbel ldquoThe third goal is to finish ndash and the fourth is not to finish lastrdquo

Go the distance with our 2010 Boston Marathon runners on April19

Our Perkins team needs you to help

them meet their overall $200000

fundraising goal They will do the foot

work You can support them online

meet the team and watch an inspiring

video of one of our members by visiting

wwwPerkinsorgbostonshymarathon

You can also mail your gift to

PSB175 N Beacon StWatertown MA

02472Attn Marathon Team Gifts will

be accepted through May 31 2010

LanternTHE

Founded in 1829 as the nationrsquos first school for the blind Perkins today impacts more than 114000 individuals including infants and seniors in their homes school age students on campus and in the community and children who are blind or deafblind in 63 developing countries The school is an accredited member of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges

and the National Association of Independent Schools It is licensed by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and Developmental Services Perkins School for the Blind does not discriminate on the basis of race gender color creed nationality ethnic origin or sexual orientation

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Wat

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72

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All we see is possibility

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