Entertainment

Perkins Teams with Revels Singing Group for A Celebration of Spring Concert

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Revels and Perkins School for the Blind’s 18th annual presentation “A Celebration of Spring.” Directed by Patrick Swanson; Music Direction by Megan Henderson

WHEN: Thursday, May 31, 2018, 7:30 p.m.

WHERE: Perkins School for the Blind, Dwight Hall – 175 No. Beacon Street, Watertown, MA

Admission is FREE

Join us for a joyful and inspirational concert of traditional music, dance and song as we celebrate spring with the talented students from Perkins School for the Blind. 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. Enjoy music and songs from South Africa, Croatia, England and America, plus a wild visit from that ancient harbinger of spring, the Padstow ‘obby ‘oss, all the way from Cornwall, England!

Perkins School for the Blind

Perkins Hosts 24-Hour ‘Hackathon’ to Create New Technology for the Blind

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{The following report was provided by Perkins School for the Blind}
After 24 hours of non-stop problem-solving, collaboration and software development, Perkins School for the Blind crowned the winners of its first-ever hackathon on Saturday. The grand prize winning design, a tactile lever device that allows coders with visual impairment to feel what their data trends look like, was one of 22 entries from college students across the United States and Canada who gathered at Perkins’ campus to develop innovative tech-based solutions to problems facing the visually impaired community in work, education and daily life. Throughout the event, more than 100 students worked in teams to solve one of six challenges inspired by the real-life experiences of blind individuals. A panel of expert judges scored the resulting designs. Other prize-winning designs included accessible apps like SonifEye, which allows coders with visual impairment to hear changes in data; Seats, which helps students locate empty seats in a cafeteria; Ezform, which allows individuals who are blind to fill out paper forms electronically; OvenBot, which helps users locate buttons on a digital display; B-Fit, which connect people with visual impairment with “spotters” at the gym; and iSee, which provides information on dining hall menus and allows users to connect with friends.

Business

Perkins Partners with Company to Provides High Tech Assistance for the Blind

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Some employees at Perkins School for the Blind have been testing some high tech glasses that give the blind and visually impaired new independence. They don’t let users see better, per se, but instead they have a camera that allows someone to watch a live stream video and give the wearer instant descriptions and directions. The technology was developed by San Diego-based startup Aira, which this week announced a partnership with the school in Watertown – the first of its kind in the country. One of those who piloted Aira was Kim Charlson, executive director of the Perkins Library. Charlson is visually impaired and uses her seeing-eye dog Dolly to help her get around.

Entertainment

Revels Teams with Perkins School for Free Celebration of Spring Concert

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Revels will once again perform with Perkins School for the Blind for the Celebration of Spring Concert. The concert will be held Thursday, May 25, 2017, at 7:30 p.m. at Perkins School for the Blind’s Dwight Hall – 175 North Beacon St., Watertown. Admission is FREE. Revels sent out the following announcement:

Join us as Revels partners with Perkins School for an inspiring, music-filled Celebration of Spring. Enjoy traditional English songs, songs from the Islands, and from Early America performed by the talented Perkins School Secondary Program Chorus (Arnie Harris, director), aRevels chorus of adults and children, musician/song leader David Coffin, a youngrapper sword dance team, plus a great band of Revels musicians.  Last but not least, expect a wild visit from the ancient and venerable Padstow ‘Obby ‘Oss, all the way from Cornwall, England!

Schools

Perkins School for the Blind Hires Veteran Fundraiser as Chief Development Officer

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Perkins School for the Blind has brought on a veteran fundraiser for non-profit organizations. David Whalen brings his 25 years experience to his new role as Chief Development Officer. He will oversee the Perkins Trust – which raises funds from a variety of sources to support Perkins’ programs and initiatives – and work with the Perkins leadership team to develop new funding opportunities that will allow Perkins to expand its mission, according to the announcement from the school. He previously worked with the New England Aquarium, Partners in Health and the Union of Concerned Scientists. Whalen said he enjoyed the energy he found when visiting the Perkins campus, and likened it to a start-up company.

MassDevelopment

Perkins School Getting Big Bonds from MassDevelopment to Renovate 2 Buildings

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MassDevelopment announced it has issued a $4.1 million tax-exempt bond on behalf of Perkins School for the Blind, a Watertown educational service provider for individuals with visual impairment. Perkins is using bond proceeds to renovate two school buildings, including adding a second elevator and a universally accessible entrance; designing a new lunch room in the school’s Hilton building; and building and renovating classrooms and bathrooms and upgrading the HVAC system in its Howe Building. TD Bank purchased the bond. “For nearly two centuries, Perkins School for the Blind has opened doors to education, employment and independence for people living with blindness and deafblindness,” said MassDevelopment President and CEO Marty Jones. “MassDevelopment is pleased to support improvements to the school that will allow it to better serve its community in the years to come.”

Entertainment

NBC Offering Live Descriptions of Rio Olympics for the Blind

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This year’s Summer Olympics will be easier for the visually impaired to enjoy as the broadcasts will be available with detailed audio descriptions of the action. 

Kim Charlson, director of the Perkins School for the Blind’s Library, sent out information about how to access the video description. The descriptions are available for Xfinity Comcast subscribers who have SAP available devices. Go to the cable Audio settings, hit SAP language and select Video Description. NBC will have the video description on its primetime coverage of the Rio Olympics. Xfinity customers will also be able view the Opening and Closing ceremonies on demand with the descriptions the day after they air.

Around Town

Revels Joins Perkins School for 16th Annual Celebration of Spring Concert

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Revels and Perkins School for the Blind’s 16th annual presentation of “A Celebration of Spring” will be held on Thursday May 26 at 7:30 p.m.

Directed by Patrick Swanson;  Music Direction by George Emlen, the concert will be at Perkins School for the Blind in Dwight Hall, 175 No. Beacon Street, Watertown. Admission is FREE! Join us as Revels partners with Perkins School for an inspiring and memorable music-filled Celebration of Spring. This hour-long performance of seasonal music and dance will feature the Perkins Secondary Chorus (Arnie Harris, director), Revels Singers, song leader and musician David Coffin, a young rapper sword team, and a great band of musicians.  And it wouldn’t be a Revels celebration of spring without morris dancing and a visit from the ancient and mysterious Padstow ‘Obby ‘Oss, all the way from Cornwall, England! Revels’ partnership with Perkins School these many years has been rewarding in so many ways.  We hope you can share the joy of this special evening with us.