International Programs

ON-NET

Following the success of EENAT, the Overbrook-Nippon Network on Educational Technology, known as ON-NET, launched in Thailand in 1998.

The network later expanded to Malaysia, the Philippines, Cambodia, Indonesia, Vietnam and Laos. In 2004, an endowment from the Nippon Foundation added Myanmar to the network.

In coordination with the Regional Advisory Committee, ON-NET has worked with local partners to address educational and employment needs for people with visual impairments.

• Training sessions at established educational centers
• Employment assistance for people with visual impairments
• Development of accessible products, including Braille translation software
• Regional collaboration to strengthen education and technology access

Active Countries

Today, ON-NET remains active in Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, the Philippines and Vietnam.

Click here to Download the Partnerships for Change: National Strategies

OCI

The Overbrook China Initiative, known as OCI, was established in 2005 at the request of Chinese partners, with funds provided by the former John Milton Society for the Blind.

Completed in three phases, OCI connected schools, educators, administrators, parents, students and medical professionals through training, workshops, webinars and study tours.

Phase One: 2005–2010

Nine schools for the blind shared information through annual workshops and established an online discussion list.

Phase Two: 2010–2015

Participating schools were paired with educational partners that provided school-wide training and webinars on assistive technology.

Phase Three: 2015–2016

Teachers and administrators participated in short-term study tours at Overbrook School for the Blind. Teachers spent four weeks at OSB, while administrators participated in two-week visits.

Project Impact

The OCI project involved 800 participants, including teachers, parents, students and medical professionals.

The initiative provided seven annual workshops, 10 school-wide trainings, 15 webinars and low-vision training.

EENAT

The Eastern European Network on Access Technology for Blind and Visually Impaired Persons, known as EENAT, was OSB’s first international outreach project.

With funding from the Soros Foundation, EENAT launched in 1996 in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Lithuania, Poland and the Slovak Republic. In 1999, the project expanded to Estonia, Latvia and Romania.

The project provided materials, equipment and training, created an online discussion list, developed publications and hosted a regional conference.

Project Impact

More than 5,000 individuals benefited from EENAT through expanded access to assistive technology, training and regional collaboration.

OSB’s International Program has collaborated extensively with the International Council for Education of People with Visual Impairment, known as ICEVI.

Through this partnership, OSB has helped develop and share resources that support students, educators and communities around the world.

Collaborative Projects

• Mathematics Made Easy, a resource developed to support math instruction for students with visual impairment
• Software Developed by OSB's International Program and the Sao Mai Center 
• MATH MADE EASY YouTube Channel launched by Overbrook School for the Blind and Larry Campbell, President Emeritus of ICEVI