Perkins AmeriCorps Service Position

Perkins School for the Blind•Watertown, MA

35d•Onsite

About The Position

Perkins helps children with disabilities find their place in the world. An international NGO, we are committed to delivering best-in-class education to children, providing immersive training and support to professionals and families, advocating for inclusion, and accelerating innovation for people with disabilities. At Perkins, we think courageously, act collaboratively, and we own our work. Join a supportive community committed to growth where your work makes a difference. Perkins AmeriCorps Member Position Description The Perkins AmeriCorps Program engages adults of all backgrounds and identities to serve Perkins’ students. Supervised by experienced Perkins staff, AmeriCorps members help students use assistive technology, plan careers, develop independent living skills, and become more confident in social interactions. While making this important contribution, Perkins AmeriCorps members gain professional skills and valuable knowledge. AmeriCorps members make a profound difference in their own lives and the lives of the students they serve. Perkins is a private, nonprofit agency that oversees the Perkins AmeriCorps program and supports AmeriCorps members throughout their term of service. The seven Perkins AmeriCorps members serve for 25.5 weeks in a full-time capacity (900 hours at approximately 42-45 hours per week) in student-facing roles. Perkins is a national and international leader in education for children and young adults who are visually impaired, including those with multiple disabilities. Our best practices in teaching and our core belief that all children can learn, is reaching more children and teachers in Massachusetts, New England, the US and around the world. It can’t happen soon enough. Perkins AmeriCorps members will facilitate educational experiences for students with visual impairments and complex disabilities. This includes interventions that are part of the expanded core curriculum, which are outlined in more detail below.

Requirements

A US citizen or permanent resident (green card holder)
18 years of age at minimum (member age range is 18–70+ years old)
Excited to give back to your community and interested in developing your skills and gaining new professional experiences
Able to balance service commitments with personal commitments in a sustainable way
Fully vaccinated for Measles, Mumps, Rubella.
Comfortable with or willingness to learn on-line collaboration tools, e.g. shared calendars, email, shared folders/files (Google Drive, Google Apps) and Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Powerpoint).
Self-motivated and detail oriented, highly organized and reliable, able to work independently and on a team.
Able to manage multiple tasks with competing deadlines
Willing to learn new content management systems like America Learns to support data collection and reporting.
Willing to complete Safety Care training which provides members with training that allows them to support student behavioral needs through de-escalation techniques. Some of these involve physical interventions.

Responsibilities

Support students in expanded core curriculum activities before, during and after the school day across nine key areas: Assistive Technology, Career Education, Compensatory Skills, Independent Living Skills, Orientation and Mobility, Recreation and Leisure, Self-Determination, Sensory Efficiency, and Social Interaction Skills. This will include lesson preparation and delivery with support from teaching staff. Educational activities may support students individually one to one, in small groups, as well as supporting larger group activities.
Support student behavioral needs through de-escalation techniques, utilizing techniques you will be taught during onboarding. Some of these involve physical interventions.
Ability to independently utilize Google Suite and Microsoft Office Suite to perform daily tasks associated with the role including communication with Perkins staff and data collection multiple times throughout the day after initial training.
Ability to successfully navigate a 38-acre campus independently that is not fully accessible after onboarding and orientation.
Ability to independently adapt to daily changes in schedules due to changing classroom needs.
Complete a minimum of 900 hours of service over 25.5 weeks, serving between Feb 2, 2026 and July 29, 2026.
Participate in extensive training and professional development opportunities throughout your service term.
Collaborate with other AmeriCorps members to support campus-wide events, such as annual Early Connections Conference and activities such as a before or after school club or adaptive sports.
Be a part of the greater AmeriCorps community, including participating in cross-site learning groups, writing a short profile for the AmeriCorps newsletter, connecting with other members on our online platforms, and attending broader Massachusetts Service Alliance (MSA) service events.
Recruit and manage at least 2 community volunteers with support from Perkins staff to support your ECC activities over the service term.
Share about your service through the collection of stories of impact.

Benefits

Taxable Stipend of $1,500 bi-weekly for up to 13 pay periods while in service (up to $19,500 minus taxes and withholdings)
Health Insurance (individual coverage only, available upon request)
Education award of up to approximately $3697.50 upon successful completion of service, minus taxes and withholdings (actual award amount has not yet been published for 2026)
Use of a Perkins laptop
Access to Perkins campus training including certification in CPR, First Aid, Safety Care, Cortico-visual impairment (CVI) as well as other relevant educational training to prepare you to engage with students with multiple disabilities and visual impairments (MDVI) in expanded core curriculum activities
Extensive professional development training opportunities throughout the year
Up to $500 of individual professional development funds for personal use (with prior approval from AmeriCorps Program Manager)
Planned time off with prior approval (up to 5 days, which do not count towards service time).
Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance
Wellness programs available.
Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA)
Flexible Spending Accounts
Employer-Paid Life & Long-Term Disability Insurance
401(k) Plan with employer match
Education Benefits: Tuition reimbursement day one
Paid Time Off
Extras: Employee Recognition Programs, EAP, legal services, referral bonuses, credit union access, pre-tax MBTA passes and more!