Perkins School for the Blind

Before moving to a traditional #WhiteCane, a #Precane can be a wonderful first tool for children who are #Blind or #VisuallyImpaired to navigate their world. We love this moment of Drew from our Infant-Toddler Program using his precane made by Perkins' Adaptive Design Center! 💙

Come along with Declan as he takes us on a tour of our annual Work Experience Open House, where students meet with representatives from on-campus and local organizations in #Watertown and beyond. They ask questions, explore different roles, and some even share a resume.

A critical part of our community. Thank you for all you do, every day, for children with disabilities. Happy #MothersDay 🌸

“Braille allows me to offer as much accessibility as possible to everyone who wants it,” says Beth, @PerkinsLibrary’s #Braille Production Manager. Tell us in the comments, what has braille done for you?

We’re still smiling after last night’s #TasteOfPerkins! It was a true pleasure to spend a beautiful evening with more than 300 friends and supporters, sharing our mission while sipping drinks and sampling amazing food. ✨ Missed it? Sign up for our emails: Perkins.org/PerkinsForward

Our teachers and staff are the heart of Perkins and they hold SO many different roles worth celebrating! This #TeacherAppreciationWeek, we’re grateful for your endless talent, dedication, and expertise in helping children with disabilities find their place in the world. 💙

Families are at the heart of everything we do at Perkins. Join us at the #TasteOfPerkins on Thursday, May 7, to hear from these families and others like them. 💙 Register today: Perkins.org/Taste

May is Watertown Helps Out 💙 This community-wide month of service, led by the Watertown Community Foundation, is a great way to get involved locally. You can find volunteer opportunities at Perkins and across the city. See how you can take part this May: watertownfoundation.org/watertown-help…

Video description: Video 1: Students on adaptive-seated bikes pedal together by the Charles River. Text appears on screen: Camp Abilities Biking. Video 2: Kelsey explaining what Camp Abilities is as broll of adapted biking flashes on screen in between clips.

When you join the 5-Star Challenge, you’ll help students with disabilities experience the magic of Perkins! Starting a monthly gift of $5 or more unlocks: ⭐️ A Perkins tote 💫 Exclusive invites to special events 🌟 Special impact updates Sign up today: bit.ly/48NvIK1

Over April break our students and their families visited a local therapeutic equestrian center. 🐴 They learned what goes into caring for a horse, like grooming, feeding and equipment. Then, everyone had the chance to try these tasks themselves!

Learning how to cross a street is a critical skill for young adults who are #Blind or #LowVision. Ava practices a crossing without stop signs or traffic signals. Real-world settings help prepare students for life after Perkins, like a barrier on the sidewalk blocking their view.

Charlie began his journey with Perkins and started learning #Braille at age 2. Now in public school, he continues building those skills with his #TeacherOfTheVisuallyImpaired and at home through play and daily routines.

For some students who are #Blind or #VisuallyImpaired, learning #Science through touch helps build a deeper understanding of the world around them. And a monthly gift helps learning moments like this happen every day. 💙 ⭐️ Join the 5-Star Challenge at bit.ly/48NvIK1

We're celebrating #NationalGuideDogDay in the @BlindNewWorld by handing the camera over to one of our favorite guide dogs! Join Idabelle and her person, @PerkinsLibrary Director Kim Charlson, for a typical day navigating our beautiful #Watertown campus. 🦮 #GuideDog

How do blind people experience emojis? 🤔 Our friends at @PerkinsLibrary and @BlindNewWorld helped us find out! Screen reader software allows #Blind and #LowVision users to hear emojis by announcing short descriptors like “thinking face” or “red heart.” 🔊

Why is labeling your groceries as a #Blind person important? This small habit of adding #Braille or other tactile markers might just save your dinner!

No snow? No problem! 🏂 In Adapted #PhysicalEducation, kids with disabilities are exposed to a variety of sports and athletics. Today Kelsey takes us through our adaptive #Snowboarding station, where students practice leaning side to side on a mat and eventually the balance beam.

Does #Braille have punctuation and symbols? 🤔 We asked our friends at @PerkinsLibrary for the answer. Absolutely! Braille contains the same punctuation marks as are found in print. But, some combinations of dots have different meanings depending on their placement. 📚

Whether it’s holding onto a pole or a guide or other methods like using a tether, adaptive sleds, and headsets to communicate, there’s a way for everyone who is #Blind or #LowVision to hit the slopes.⛷️