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| Teacher training in India. |
Formalizing university programs for teachers of students with disabilities is an essential component to improving educational services for children who are blind or blind with additional disabilities. Professional academic programs provide an opportunity for professionals to study locally and in their language.
Perkins International has successfully collaborated with universities and government recognized teacher training programs worldwide, either by assisting in the creation of new programs for teachers or by infusing fundamental coursework into existing teacher preparation programs in blindness.
Today Perkins is affiliated with 26 formal teacher training programs located in: Argentina, Armenia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, Costa Rica, Estonia, Ghana, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kenya, Malawi, Philippines, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Russia, Tanzania, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, Uganda, and Venezuela.
These programs provide instruction to teachers and trainers, who will extend their expertise in the field. The presence of such programs brings visibility to the field of education for children who are deafblind and or blind with additional disabilities. This visibility often results in governmental acceptance and support for programs for children and licensure of programs.
Eight are full programs that offer a degree in the education of children who are deafblind or blind with additional disabilities. The other partnerships have classes and coursework embedded into special education programs. Approximately 400 people graduate from these programs each year.