Perkins School for the Blind Launches Virtual Academy to Bridge Special Education Training Gap
Key points:
– Launch of the virtual academy in January 2024
– Initial focus on education for people who are blind or have low vision, with plans to expand to other disabilities.
– Addresses the critical shortage of specialized teachers
– The first program focuses on CVI and costs $500 per course.
– Open to both educators and parents.
–Aims to improve accessibility in general education classrooms.
Perkins School for the Blind opens Perkins Academya virtual platform that will provide online education for teachers who work with students with disabilities. Starting in January, the academy will initially focus on teaching methods for students who are blind or have low vision, with plans to expand to cover other disabilities. CEO Dave Power envisions it becoming a “Khan Academy” for special education, offering bite-sized, hands-on lessons for educators.
This initiative comes at a crucial time, as the majority of students with disabilities now attend public schools rather than specialized institutions like Perkins. However, there is a significant national shortage of teachers trained to work with visually impaired students. For example, about 25 districts in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island are currently on a waiting list for specialized staff support. The challenge is particularly acute because standard K-12 education relies heavily on visual learning, creating barriers for blind students.
The first certification program, which will begin on January 15, will focus on Cerebral/cortical visual impairment (CVI)the main cause of blindness and low vision in children. The program consists of four courses, each costing $500, and is open to both educators and parents. This approach is especially important as CVI is often underdiagnosed and misunderstood, and presents differently than other forms of visual impairment. For example, some children with CVI can only see objects in motion, not at rest. The academy plans to expand its curriculum to include other subjects such as Braille and mathematics education for visually impaired students.
Be sure to visit the source link to read more details about Perkins Academy.
Fountain: WBUR
