Schools

Watertown Resident will be Honored by Carroll Center for the Blind

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Waterown’s Kate Katulak, who works at Perkins School for the Blind, will be honored by The Carroll Center for the Blind. The following information was provided by Carroll Center for the Blind:

The Carroll Center for the Blind, in collaboration with the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind, will honor four outstanding individuals who are blind or visually impaired during the 35th annual Carroll Society Awards on June 6, 2019. The Carroll Society Awards recognize blind and visually impaired employees who have made significant contributions to their companies or nonprofit organizations by their outstanding ability and job performance.  Individuals are chosen because, despite vision loss, they are exemplary employees and contribute to the overall culture of both their business and community. The following individuals will be inducted into the Carroll Society:

Daniela Depina, of Boston, Independent Living Advocate, Boston Center for Independent Living (BCIL);Kate Katulak, of Watertown, Assistant Director of College Success, Perkins School for the Blind; andPauline Dowell, of Charlestown, Administrative Assistant, Human Resources, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The Carroll Center will also recognize Carla Burke of Harwich Port as the “Blind Employee of the Year” for her work as an assistive technology coordinator at the Brooks Free Library in Harwich. “These individuals have made an immense impact on their organizations, despite vision loss, and we are proud to recognize their achievements,” said Gregory J. Donnelly, president and CEO of the Carroll Center for the Blind.

Entertainment

Free Celebration of Spring Concert Features Revels, Perkins School Students

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Revels and Perkins School for the Blind students do the Circle Dance as part of the “Celebration of Spring” concert. The following information was provided by Revels:

Join us for a joyful and inspirational concert of traditional music, dance and song as Revels celebrates spring with the talented students from Perkins School for the Blind. A Celebration of Spring, Directed by Patrick Swanson;  Music Direction by Megan Henderson, will be held Thursday, May 23, 2019, 7:30 p.m.Perkins School for the Blind, Dwight Hall, 175 No. Beacon Street, Watertown. Admission is FREE

Revels directors Megan Henderson and Paddy Swanson lead this special one-hour program featuring Perkins’ talented singers with Revels’ adult and children’s choruses, a children’s morris team, and a great band of musicians.

Perkins School for the Blind

Perkins, Spaulding Rehabilitation Team to Make Info More Accessible

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Perkins School for the Blind provided the following information:

While the landmark 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act has made great strides specific to physical access, there is still a significant gap around accessible digital information. Assistive technology tools exist, such as audible screen readers, but the success of those tools hinges on the thoughtful and inclusive design of digital information. Spaulding Rehabilitation Network has taken a major step to close that gap by teaming with Perkins Access, the commercial consulting group at Perkins School for the Blind, to design a patient-first website (spauldingrehab.org) which sets a new standard for usability and accessibility. Spaulding patient Chris Hoeh tested the new site and commented, “I use my phone for most of my online needs and navigate using my thumb, which doesn’t work on most sites. It would be incredible if all organizations followed Spaulding’s lead and considered users of every ability when designing their sites.”

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) specify how to make content accessible and usable by audiences of varying needs and abilities.

Around Town

Easter Tradition Continues at Perkins School for the Blind

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A mother helps her son collect eggs at the Perkins School for the Blind Beeping Egg Hunt. The following piece was provided by Perkins School for the Blind:

Hundreds of children and extended family members joined in on the 7th Annual Beeping Egg Hunt at Perkins School for the Blind on Saturday, April 6th. Three hundred brightly-colored, plastic eggs that emit high-pitched beeps were placed around the central playground on Perkins’ Watertown Campus. The Beeping Egg Hunt is a specialized event for children with visual impairments and their families. Each year it attracts students enrolled in both day and residential programs at Perkins, as well as other area families. 

Cameron shows his excitement after finding a beeping egg at the annual Perkins School event.

Around Town

Sign Up for the Beeping Egg Hunt at Perkins School for the Blind

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The Howe Building at Perkins School for the Blind. Children and their families are invited to participate in Perkins Schools of the Blinds’ Beeping Egg Hunt. Registration is open for the free event which will take place on Saturday, April 6, 2019, at the Perkins campus at 175 North Beacon StreetWatertown. There are two sessions, at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Perkins sent out the following information:

At Perkins, we aim to provide superior individualized educational services and engaging activities for students in our community, across the U.S. and around the world. Please join us for a fun-filled, inclusive event!

Schools

Boston Bruins Players Drop by Perkins School for to Try Out a Different Sport

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Boston Bruins players, from left, Zdeno Chara, Ryan Donato and Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson, shake hands with students from Perkins School for the Blind after playing goal ball in the gym at the Watertown-based school. Three members of the Boston Bruins took some time away from the ice to join students from Perkins School for the Blind for a game of goal ball on Monday afternoon. NHL players Zdeno Chara, Ryan Donato and Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson donned the black and gold jerseys with the famous spoked “B,” while students came dressed in their blue jerseys with “Perkins” across the front. The Bruins were greeted by the school’s cheerleading team, which got the crowd in the Perkins gym warmed up with a few numbers. Then it was time to strap on the goggles and play some goal ball.

Entertainment

Perkins Announces Schedule of Audio Described Theater Performances for 2018-19

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New Rep Theatre’s 1776 is one of the performances around the Boston area featuring audio descriptions for those blind or visually impaired. The following information came from Perkins School for the Blind:

Please come to the exciting live theater productions with audio description during the remainder of the 2018-2019 theater season. Preshow description of sets and costumes for performances at all locations generally begins 60 minutes prior to curtain (unless otherwise noted). Please arrive early to allow time to get headsets, programs and be seated. The following audio described performances will be at the designated theatres listed below:

American Repertory Theater

64 Brattle Street, Harvard Square, Cambridge617-547-8300www.americanrepertorytheater.orgTo purchase tickets for these performances, email boxoffice@amrep.org

Barber Shop Chronicles

Audio Described: Friday, December 21 at 7:30 PM and Saturday, December 22 at 2:00 PM

Newsroom and political platform—for generations, barber shops have been places where African men gather to discuss the world.

Around Town

Commander’s Mansion Adds Some Holiday Cheer to Watertown

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Commander’s Mansion Facilities Manager Tammy McKenna takes a photo of a family visiting Santa Claus during the Holiday Open House. Photo by Charlie Breitrose

The Commander’s Mansion was decked out for the season Thursday evening as the historic home in Watertown hosted the annual Holiday Open House. Dozens of families visited the home to view the Christmas trees, enjoy some cookies and hot cocoa, and listen to some carols. Rooms in the historic Commander’s Mansion were decorated for the holidays, including this Christmas tree. Photo by Charlie Breitrose

Santa Claus arrived at the Mansion with a special escort from the Watertown Police Department.