Perkins School for the Blind

What Perkins School for the Blind does

Perkins School for the Blind is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1829 in Watertown, Massachusetts, and the first school for the blind in the United States. It serves children and young adults (birth through age 22) who are blind or visually impaired, including those with Cortical/Cerebral Visual Impairment (CVI), deafblindness, and multiple disabilities. Core service lines include on-campus day and residential schooling (Early Learning Center, Lower School, Secondary, Deafblind School with the world's largest concentration of CHARGE syndrome students), the CVI Center (assessment, training, and the CVI Now community), Perkins Library (a Library of Congress NLS network library serving 22,500+ patrons), the Perkins Innovation Center (DisabilityTech acceleration), and the Adaptive Design Center (custom adaptive equipment). Its international footprint spans 42 countries via the Educational Leadership Program (training educators in 98 countries) and Perkins International Academy (21 countries, 4 regions).

The technology portfolio includes the Perkins Brailler (the most widely used mechanical Braille writer globally), the SMART Brailler (electronic Braille writer with digital connectivity), and the new Perkins Braille Bloom (a $300 digital companion device launching May 2026 that converts Braille input to on-screen text in real time via USB or Bluetooth). Proprietary clinical assets include The Perkins CVI Protocol, a trademarked assessment tool for evaluating Cortical/Cerebral Visual Impairment in children, and a CVI Interventions Library of evidence-based strategies.

Revenue mechanics combine donations and grants (primary), hardware product sales (Braille Bloom, SMART Brailler, Perkins Brailler), professional services and training, and tiered paid CVI Assessment Services ($2,500 comprehensive / $750 file review). Perkins Library services are free to eligible patrons. Distribution is multi-channel: direct on-campus schooling, a national library network, international partnerships, online learning via Perkins Academy, and corporate-supported innovation programming through the Perkins Innovation Center. The organization employs 501-1,000 staff and is accredited by NEASC.

Name

Perkins School for the Blind

Legal name

Perkins School for the Blind

Website

https://perkins.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1829

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Perkins School for the Blind, founded in 1829 in Watertown, Massachusetts, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit serving children and young adults who are blind or visually impaired, including those with CVI and deafblindness. It operates schools, the Perkins Library, the CVI Center, the Perkins Innovation Center, and international educator-training programs reaching 42 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Special Education Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Educational Support Services (6117), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Specialized Instruction & Resource Support (Inclusion, Pull-Out, Co-Teaching) (EDAJAKAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Virtual Special Education & Related Services (IEP Delivery Online) (EDAJADAG), Special Needs-Inclusive Early Learning Academies (EDACADAI), Deaf/Hard of Hearing & Vision Services (Audiology, Interpreting, Orientation & Mobility) (EDAJAKAI), Inclusive Education (Disability, Gender Equity, Marginalized Learners) (BPADAKAI), Special Education / Intervention & Differentiated Instruction Content Development (EDAGAKAO)

Keywords

• Special education services
• Assistive technology products
• Visual impairment education
• Braille accessibility tools
• CVI assessment training

Headquarters

HQ city

Watertown

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: Primary funding source from charitable donations and foundation grants supporting the school's mission and programs.
2. Product Sales: Revenue from sale of assistive technology products including Perkins Brailler, SMART Brailler, and Braille Bloom devices.
3. Services and Training: Professional development, training programs, and consulting services for educators and professionals working with individuals with visual impairments.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Perkins School for the Blind is a nonprofit organization that delivers educational programs, professional training, and accessible library services for children and young adults (birth through age 22) who are blind or visually impaired, including those with CVI and deafblindness. It complements these services by manufacturing and selling iconic assistive Braille technology products (Perkins Brailler, SMART Brailler, and the upcoming Braille Bloom) and offering specialized CVI assessment and training services for educators and families.

Product overview

Perkins School for the Blind offers a comprehensive suite of educational programs, assessment tools, and accessible technology products serving children with visual impairments, CVI, and deafblindness from birth through age 22. The portfolio includes the Perkins Brailler family (classic Brailler and SMART Brailler), the new Perkins Braille Bloom digital companion device ($300), and The Perkins CVI Protocol for standardized assessment. Core programs span on-campus schooling (Early Learning Center, Lower School, Secondary, Deafblind School) with day and residential options. The CVI Center provides virtual workshops, CVI Assessment Services ($2,500 comprehensive / $750 file review), and the CVI Now online community. International reach includes the Educational Leadership Program (9-month immersive training in 98 countries) and Perkins International Academy operating in 21 countries. Supporting services include Perkins Library (250,000+ titles in accessible formats), Perkins Academy online learning, the Adaptive Design Center, Transition Center, and the Perkins Innovation Center advancing DisabilityTech.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Perkins CVI Protocol℠: An expert evaluation tool designed to help teachers of the visually impaired create a robust, individualized CVI evaluation report with recommendations for students with CVI.
• CVI Now
• Perkins Library

Products and services

• Perkins Braille Bloom A digital companion device connecting the Perkins Brailler to the internet via USB or Bluetooth, converting Braille output to on-screen text in real-time, priced at $300.
• Perkins Brailler The most widely used mechanical Braille writer in the world, designed for learning to read Braille or working on complex math equations.
• The Perkins CVI Protocol An expert evaluation tool designed to help teachers of the visually impaired create a robust, individualized CVI evaluation report with recommendations for students with Cerebral/Cortical Visual Impairment.
• CVI Assessment Services Two evaluation options for students aged 0-22 with suspected or diagnosed CVI: Comprehensive CVI Assessment ($2,500) and Parent Interview and File Review (promotional rate $750).
• Perkins Library Library service circulating over half a million accessible books, newspapers, and publications annually in braille, large print, and digital audio formats to patrons with print disabilities; serves 22,500+ patrons as a network library of the Library of Congress NLS.
• Early Learning Center Educational program for children ages 3 to 6 providing individualized programming with focus on concept development, orientation and mobility, behavior regulation, and friendship building.
• Deafblind School Total Communication educational environment serving students ages 3-22 who are deafblind or deaf with additional disabilities, including the world's largest concentration of students with CHARGE syndrome.
• Educational Leadership Program (ELP) A 9-month immersive education experience (2 months online, 7 months on-campus) training educators in 98 countries to help children with multiple disabilities learn and define their own success.
• Perkins International Academy Training courses providing competency standards for teachers working with children with multiple disabilities, delivered by Perkins-trained experts worldwide in 21 countries across 4 regions.
• Perkins Academy An online learning platform offering on-demand access to creative solutions, proven methods, and practical strategies for teaching children with disabilities, including CVI courses.
• Transition Center Programs and expert resources for students and families navigating the journey from high school to adulthood, including Compass, Life Launch, Navigator, and PathFinder programs.
• Adaptive Design Center Creates and distributes custom-made adaptive equipment and learning materials for classrooms, with itinerant teachers supporting student education across the state and beyond.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1.8 million children reached globally
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Library of Congress' National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPerkins Library is a network library of the NLS, providing accessible books and materials to patrons who are blind or have print disabilities. This partnership enables Perkins to distribute NLS materials and expand accessibility services.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/perkinsvision
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/PerkinsVision
• Facebookfacebook.com/OfficialPerkins
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/perkins-school-for-the-blind
• Instagraminstagram.com/perkinsvision
• Pinterestpinterest.com/officialperkins

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Perkins School for the Blind