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| A mother in India plays with her son who is visually impaired. |
Perkins International recognizes that parents are the best advocates for their children’s rights. Fundamental to our international work is support and education for family members on blindness and multiple disabilities. Many parents are at a loss as to how to communicate with their child when they learn she or he cannot speak, see or hear. A lack of services in their community can compound feelings of isolation.
To bring parents together to support one another and exchange experiences, Perkins prioritizes the empowerment of parent groups.
Perkins regularly develops parent-training goals for each project and has sponsored both regional and national parent meetings. In more than 80 percent of our partner programs, Perkins provides organizational assistance to parent groups that support families with children in need and advocate for changes in disability, education and health policies.
Our support for parent organizations encompasses education and advocacy initiatives. These efforts involve collaborating with government officials to develop programs that support children and families and to implement appropriate health and education policies. The combined efforts of parent groups and ministries have helped to ensure long-lasting results in numerous communities.