Schools

Perkins School Partnership Enhances Education for the Blind in Armenia

The Watertown-based school worked with a university in Armenia to train teachers to work with blind students.

Officials from Watertown’s Perkins School for the Blind worked over the summer to strengthen the school’s relationship with the blind and deaf blind in Armenia.

The completion of a specialized program at the Armenian State Pedagogical University of Yerevan was celebrated on June 28. The program included four intensive seminars over two years arranged by Perkins International in conjunction with the university, the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, Kharberd Specialized Children’s Home and the “For You” charitable organization, according to an announcement from the school.

Perkins President Steven Rothstein praised the partnership.

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“Here at Perkins, or in Yerevan, we have one goal. With incredible partners like you, we can train teachers, build capacity, provide the tools and the equipment needed to empower teachers and parents to release the genius that exists in every child.”

Armenia has approximately 1,700 blind children, but in 2011 no more than 75 received services. The Perkins program deepened expertise at the university and will expand the number of blind students who can be educated.

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The U.S. Ambassador to Armenia, John Heffern and the Armenian Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Artem Asatryan attended the event, and Perkins International sent Dennis Lolli from Watertown for the celebration.

A number of people from schools and ministries in Armenia have visited Perkins’ campus since 2005.


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