International Educators Graduate from Perkins Training Program
ELP's Bring Hope, Inspiration to Home Countries
Standing before a group of dedicated educators from countries around the world, Dr. Aziza Baccouche told the story of her journey starting as a young girl at a school for the blind in Tunisia to realizing her dreams of becoming a theoretical nuclear physicist and television news correspondent in America.
Dr. Baccouche (aka Dr. Z) was addressing Perkins' Educational Leadership Program Class of 2010. (Read graduate bios). The program is a critical element of Perkins International's mission to strengthen the skills of teachers of children who are visually impaired with other disabilities around the world. The goal is empowering educators to create new possibilities for children and adults in their home countries. Dr. Baccouche is living proof that there are no limits for individuals with disabilities when they have access to education.
She remembered when her college adviser recommended she major in Italian since she already spoke five languages and he believed continuing with physics would be impossible for someone who is blind.
"He said it takes sight to do physics. Obviously I proved him wrong," said Dr. Baccouche, who went on to earn a PhD and is now a published physicist. "What it takes is vision ... vision for me has nothing to do with the ability to see. Vision for me is a mindset." Dr. Baccouche overcame stereotypes again as the first blind CNN television correspondent. She is currently producing her own documentary entitled "Seeking Vision" based on her life experiences.
"You will always hold a special place in each of our hearts," Gissara said of the students. "And now let's go and change the world, my international friends. I strongly believe we can do it. Because now, more than ever, all we see is possibility."
To date, nearly 200 educators from 70 countries have completed the Educational Leadership Program. Many of these graduates have become leaders in visual impairment and multiple disability education.
Meet the 2010 ELP Graduates
Scroll down to learn about the members of Perkins' ELP Class of 2010 or click on one of the following countries to jump to that graduate's bio: Argentina, Armenia, Bangladesh, Brazil, Bulgaria, China, Czech Republic, Estonia, Indonesia, Kenya, Turkey, Uganda.
Daniela Gissara – Argentina
Daniela has been working at the Cabred University since 2005 as instructor in optics and low vision. She also works part-time at the GAUDE Foundation, which provides early intervention, school age services and rehabilitation to people with visual impairments. While at Perkins, she would like to focus on educational and other services for children with multiple disabilities with special emphasis on vision assessment and low vision rehabilitation. When she returns to Argentina, Daniela is expected to increase her time at the Gaude Foundation in order to expand its services to children with multiple disabilities.
Anna Tahmazyan – Armenia
Anna has been working at the Gyumri Children’s Home since 2004 while at the same time, pursuing her education. Anna’s responsibilities include working as a psychologist as well as providing individual training for children who are blind with additional disabilities. She has a psychologist license from Gyumri Pedagogical Institute. While at Perkins, Anna would like to gain knowledge, skills and experience in work with preschool age children and children who are deafblind. When she returns to Armenia, Anna will be part of the trained professionals to improve education for children who are blind with multiple disabilities at a new educational center the principal of the Children’s Home plans to open.
Hemayetun Nessa Papri – Bangladesh
Nessa has been working at HiCare as Vice Principal, Course Coordinator, and part-time audiologist since 1987. Her responsibilities include course development for the Teacher Training Program, training for families, and curriculum development for various grade levels of hearing impaired children and audiology. She is a part-time lecturer at several other universities and teacher training programs. After completion of her studies at Perkins, she will resume her current position and improve services as well as upgrade the teacher training courses and outreach to families.
Ana Lucia Rago – Brazil
Ana has worked at the Eva Lidstedt Low Vision Center at the Santa Casa Hospital in Sao Paulo since 1998. She is the team coordinator for the rehabilitation group which provides low vision, educational assessment and physical therapy for low vision and multi-impaired children ages 1-14. While at Perkins, Ana will concentrate on the education of children with multiple disabilities with special emphasis on assessment, communication and teaching techniques. After completion of her ELP studies, Ana will return to the Santa Casa Hospital as the team coordinator of the Low Vision Center and expand the centers services throughout Sao Paulo and beyond.
Bogdana Mancheva – Bulgaria
Bogdana has been working at the Louis Braille School for the visually impaired in Sofia since 2007. Currently she is a classroom teacher for children with multiple disabilities. Bogdana has a special education degree from Sofia University where Mira Tzvetkova (ELP 2000) is a professor. Bogdana would like to focus on the education of children with multiple disabilities and early intervention while at Perkins. After her studies are completed, Bogdana will return to Louis Braille School to resume her position as a classroom teacher for children with multiple disabilities and coordinator of early intervention services.
Yongjin Sheng – China
Yongjin is the Deputy Director of Special Education at the Nanjing Technical College of Special Education. His responsibilities include teaching courses in special education, educational research and administration. Yongjin has worked over 20 years at the Nanjing School for the Blind as a teacher and administrator. He also worked as an editor at the Modern Special Education in Educational and Scientific Research Institute of Jiangsu Province and authored papers on the subject of special education. At Perkins, he is especially interested in learning about the American higher education institutes offering courses in the field of special education.
Tereza Odlozilikova – Czech Republic
Tereza has been working at Ostrava Center since 2007 as an early intervention consultant. Previously, she was a social worker in the adult services for the blind. While at Perkins, Tereza would like to improve her skills in the early intervention area with special emphasis on developing books, calendar systems and other tactual materials for preschool age children. She would also like to learn about improving the use of low vision and working with families. After completing Perkins, Teresa will return to Czech Republic and continue her work at the Ostrava Center.
Malle Kariste – Estonia
Malle has been working at the Tallin Helen School for the Deaf since 1995. Malle has also been working for Estonian Union for the Deaf as a social worker involved in rehabilitation teaching for adults who are deafblind. She has a college degree in preschool education from Tallinn Pedagogical College and has also completed a two year course at Tartu University sponsored by Hilton/Perkins Program in Deafblind Education. After completing her ELP studies, Malle plans to return to her current job as classroom teacher and share her newly acquired knowledge and skills with her students and colleagues.
Sr. Magdalena Sukiyam – Indonesia
Sr. Magda has been working as the Principal at the Helen Keller Indonesia School of Deafblind since 2006. Sr. Magda came to Perkins to gain skills, knowledge and experience in working with children who are deafblind. She is especially interested in communication, curriculum, teaching methods and residential living. After completing her ELP studies, Sr. Magda will resume her position as the principal of Helen Keller Indonesia School of Deafblind and share her knowledge and experiences with the education staff, residential staff, parents and personnel from other schools serving similar populations.
Masfufah Surabaya– Indonesia
Masfufah (Ufah) has been working at Banyuwangi Handicapped Elementary School since 2005. Since April 2008, she has been working with children who have multiple disabilities. Ufah has worked as a high school teacher for a number of years prior to her current assignment. While at Perkins, Ufah would like to gain knowledge, skills and experience in working with students who are multi-impaired from preschool through elementary school ages. After completing her studies at Perkins, Ufah will return to her current position and work with early intervention programs, multi-impaired school aged students and personnel preparation.
Stella Kamau – Kenya
Stella has been working as a community based worker with persons who are deafblind for two years. This project is supported by Christoffel Blindenmission. Stella has a diploma in special education from Kenya Institute of Special Education as well as certificates from a number of workshops in the field. While at Perkins, Stella will increase her knowledge and experience in all aspects of the education of students who are deafblind. Stella will return to Kenya and provide community-based services to children who are deafblind and cannot access center-based programs.
Pinar Safak – Turkey
Pinar has been working at the Gazi University, Dept. of Education since 1991 as a research assistant, teaching instructor and assistant professor. Her responsibilities include giving courses in the Dept. of Education blindness section, supervising perspective teachers who are interning in local schools for the blind, and evaluating children who are blind with multiple disabilities. While at Perkins she will focus on the education of children who are deafblind with special emphasis on assessment, IEPs and teaching strategies. After completion of her studies, Pinar will return to Gazi University and include her newly acquired knowledge in the teacher preparation courses she will conduct.
Margaret Awor – Uganda
Margaret has been working as a teacher at the Uganda School for the Deaf since 1989. Her responsibilities include working with multi-handicapped children, teaching sign language, music and dance therapy. Margaret would like to come to Perkins to gain advanced knowledge and skills in all aspects of educating children who are deafblind. When she returns home, Margaret will continue to teach in a classroom for students who are deafblind. She hopes to provide in-service training for teachers and parents and be involved in community awareness activities.
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