Florida Lions

The Florida Lions Conklin Centers For The Blind is a nationally-accredited human service organization in Daytona Beach, Florida. We are widely respected for being the first and only agency in the United States dedicated to providing coordinated vocational and independent living services to individuals who are blind and have another handicapping condition. We are owned and administered by the Lions Clubs of Florida

Our Mission: "It is the intent of the Florida Lions Conklin Center that a significant percentage of blind and otherwise disabled people will be returned to a useful role in society."

Our Purpose: "Our purpose is, therefore, to reduce or eliminate their dependence on institutional or homebound care and prepare them with the living and working skills they need to exercise maximum choice in their lives and enrich the community! The primary purpose, however, is vocational training, placement, and support."

Short History: Multihandicapped blind persons are a neglected segment of our population. Due to their multiple disabilities, they often lead dependent lives, relying on families or institutions to provide for all their needs. This does not need to be the case. Given the chance, many can become independent and work in competitive jobs. Millard Conklin, a prominent Lion internationally, realized this and founded the agency in 1979 to offer services that provide that chance. Our growth and success over the past twenty-three years has been due, in part, to the commitment of staff and widespread support from the public and private sectors.

We Are Making a Difference:  Since our inception, the Conklin Center has significantly changed the lives of hundreds of multihandicapped blind adults and children. We serve about 120 individuals annually. The approximate 100 adults we assist every year learn employment and daily living skills, enabling them to be productive and more self-sufficient. They are young people who could rely on welfare; instead, they choose to work, earn their own way, and contribute to their community. Most are Floridians, but students have come to us from the rest of the United States, South America, and the Caribbean. The 15 - 25 children we serve annually are aged birth through five, and we help teach them skills to prepare them for kindergarten and a life of independence.

The Conklin Center takes great pride that over 80% of students who complete our vocational training program every year become gainfully employed, graduate to further academic or vocational training, or gain sufficient skills to be more self-supporting. In recent years, the Center's reputation has generated a substantial increase in requests for services. Incoming students must now wait several months to enter our programs. Our community-based programs have been providing post-training lifelong supported employment and supported living services since 1987 to help graduates maintain competitive jobs and live on their own. Some multihandicapped blind young adults have been living and working on their own for 10 years or more with assistance from the Conklin Center's supported employment and supported living programs.

• Adult Basic Education. Students are offered training in Braille, typing, money management, handwriting, time management, sign language, finger spelling, and computers.
• Activities of Daily Living. Students are taught functional skills such as cooking, shopping, safety, cleaning, home management, grooming/hygiene, and budgeting.
• Residential Training. While living in dorm rooms, students learn how to make choices that develop social skills necessary for community living. Dorm staff provide round-the-clock supervision, teach leisure and community travel skills, and plan recreational outings.
• Vocational Evaluation & Training. We evaluate students' vocational awareness, skills, and interests. Each receives one-on-one training and counseling to develop basic work skills and habits. Paid work opportunities are available through our on-site workshop.
• Orientation and Mobility. We provide evaluation of travel skills; and instruction in using a sighted guide, basic protective and trailing techniques, the long cane, and public transportation including buses and cabs.
• Supported Employment. Graduates receive job training to obtain competitive employment. Coaches help teach skills on-the-job, resolve job-related issues, and make visits 2x/month at the workplace to assess workers' & employers' perceptions of job performance. Optional lifelong support ensures long-term success.
• Supported Living. Graduates receive guidance so they can live in their own homes and take control of their lives. Coaches help persons in their homes about 2x/week with everyday needs such as money management.
Community Access.Graduates learn to develop skills that help them access community resources and leisure pursuits and build social networks on their own.
Early Intervention Program.We teach skills that prepare blind and visually-impaired infants, toddlers, and pre-schoolers to enter kindergarten. The program is primarily home-based, and actively involves families.

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