03/02/2026
Perkins School for the Blind
Perkins School for the Blind (originally called the New England Asylum for the Blind) was incorporated on March 2, 1829 (197 years ago today). The original classes were held in a home in downtown Boston. In 1833, the enrollment outgrew this home and the school was moved to Thomas Perkins' larger house. By 1838, the number of students reached 65. Perkins sold his home and put the funds toward a hotel, the former Mount Washington House Hotel at Broadway and H Street in South Boston. The building was used for a school that could provide education for many more visually impaired students. The School was later named for Thomas Perkins for this generous donation.
By the 1880s, Perkins School for the Blind had two locations: the main campus in South Boston and another in the Hyde Square section of Jamaica Plain.
On October 16, 1889, two of Perkins' most famous students arrived at the school. Helen Keller came with her teacher, Anne Sullivan. Sullivan, who had a visual impairment was also educated at Perkins School for the Blind. Keller was housed and educated at the school's location in Jamaica Plain.
In 1912, with the demand for programs growing, Perkins moved to a 38 acre, newly built campus on the banks of the Charles River in Watertown. There in 1951, the school introduced the first Perkins' Brailer, which allowed students to type in Braille (a system of raised dot combinations) text. Over the next 30 years, more then 100,000 Brailer machines were produced and distributed across the country.
As mainstreaming and inclusion in public schools has grown, developed and perfected, the number of students that need to attend Perkins has declined.
Perkins continues to evolve and expand with their offerings. They provide resources for families and educators of people with visual impairments. They have extensive talking book and Braille libraries. These services are offered to students with visual disabilities as well as sighted students whose disabilities impact their reading capabilities. Perkins also has extensive programs for the elderly, who is the fastest growing blind population.
Perkins School for the Blind is the oldest school for individuals with visual disabilities in the United States. It continues to be world renowned for its innovations that support independence for people with disabilities.
THE PHOTOS: The Perkins School in 1838 (South Boston), children using objects from Perkins' Touch Library, Perkins School in Watertown (today).
Happy Birthday yesterday to our patients!
Emily H. of Dorchester
Meghan K. of Quincy
Ava S. of Milton
Happy Birthday today to our patients!
Nilton A. of Dorchester
Winnie F. of Dorchester
Teodros N. of Framingham
Keara W of Dorchester
