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| A young adult enjoys the lightweight portability of the Next Generation™ Perkins Brailler®. |
Access to the Perkins Brailler®, the pen and paper for people who are blind, enables children to both read and write braille. It also offers a chance for young adults to enter the workforce fully literate and independent.
Perkins provides a full line of Perkins Brailler products, including the Classic and Next Generation Perkins Braillers, at reduced prices to many developing countries around the world so more children can access this essential tool.
Despite the lower cost, many schools and agencies for the blind lack the resources to provide braille writers to their students. You can help by making a gift to support the distribution of Perkins Braillers.
The Kilimanjaro Blind Trust
The Kilimanjaro Blind Trust, Inc. partners with Perkins International to promote braille literacy programs operated by Perkins in Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya. Learn more.
Establishing Brailler Repair Centers
While Perkins Braillers are made of the highest quality components and are known as the sturdiest braille writing machines available, they periodically need repairs. Especially in developing countries, dust, high humidity, and the heavy use of scarce braillers takes it toll. Thus, Perkins conducts periodic brailler repair training programs and establishes brailler repair networks in many countries around the world.
Since 2007, more than 75 Perkins trained technicians have repaired more than 3,000 braillers in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. Learn more about our work in the region and read about successful repair programs in East Africa.
Brailler Assembly Plants
Perkins operates Perkins Brailler assembly plants in the United States and India. These assembly plants contribute to the independence of people with disabilities, since assembling and repairing braillers are a source of livelihood for many people.
In India, Perkins partners with WORTH Trust (Workshop for Rehabilitation and Training of the Handicapped), an organization dedicated to improving the lives of people with disabilities through education, vocational training, and employment. In addition to assembling Perkins Braillers, WORTH Trust manufactures other assistive devices and mobility aids for people with disabilities.