LCI Support Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired

Support Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired

Age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma are a few of the conditions that affect vision.  In some instances, the vision lost due to these conditions cannot be restored.

Lions clubs support the blind and visually impaired in many ways, including:

• Educational Services
• "Lions-in-Touch" Award
• Scholarships
• Vocational Services
• Recreational Services
• Aids for the Blind and Visually Impaired
• Accessibility
• Associations
• Support Groups
• Medical Research

Educational Services

Since 2003, the Hadley School for the Blind and Lions Clubs International have been in partnership. The Lions' role is to direct people who would benefit from Hadley's distance education to enroll in free courses offered by Hadley. It is an accredited international learning center that serves more than 10,000 students in 100 countries. Hadley provides free distance education for:

• Blind or visually impaired individuals, 14 years of age or older
• Relative of a blind or visually impaired child
• Family member of a blind or visually impaired person

Hadley students may access the Hadley-Bookshare library, which brings over 39,000 electronic books and 150 daily newspapers to the fingertips (and ears) of blind people everywhere. Hadley students in the US may join Hadley-Bookshare for free; Hadley students outside the US may join for a discounted rate.

In the US, Hadley offers a High School Program that allows the student to:

• Transfer high school credits to a local school
• Earn a high school diploma
• Take blindness-specific courses
• Take courses in accessible media
• Discover the joys of lifelong learning

"Lions-in-Touch" Award

Lions referring a student who enrolls in the Hadley courses may receive the "Lions-in-Touch" award pin from the president of The Hadley School. For more information, contact us.

Scholarships

Blindness-related organizations often establish educational scholarships for blind and visualy impaired students.  When asked, community Lions clubs often provide scholarship assistance for local students who are blind or visually impaired.  To locate contact information for a club, visit "Find a Club" on this Web site, or search the Web.  Most clubs are named for the communitiy in which they serve.

Vocational Services

Lions may provide assistance for the purchase of computers that aid the blind and visually impaired. Computer skills can provide the blind and visually impaired with opportunities for employment.

Recreational Services

• Lions may provide assistance for adaptive devices that enable blind and visually impaired people to participate in a variety of activities including: baseball, bowling, basketball, surfboarding, ice skating, golfing, bicycling, hiking and track and field. In other instances, such as swimming, proper coaching can enable a blind or visually impaired person to enjoy the sport.

• Lions support recreational camp programs that are customized to meet the needs of children and adults who are blind or visually impaired.

Aids for the Blind and Visually Impaired

• To improve independent mobility, many blind and visually impaired people use a white cane. Schools for the blind provide training in the use of white canes. Lions clubs may provide support by donating funds to rehabilitation centers for the blind where instructors teach orientation and mobility skills. Lions may also provide assistance to an individual needing help with travel and other costs related to attending a training program.

• Guide dogs provide another option for increased mobility. Lions often provide financial and volunteer support to numerous guide dog training schools andservice dog schools around the world. Lions Clubs International does not endorse any particular assistance dog facility. Information about assistance dog facilities is compiled and shared with Lions and the general public.

• Upon request, Lions clubs may help with the purchase of assistive devices to aid visually impaired persons with activities of daily living. Among the many products available from manufacturers are magnifiers, large display watches, talking clocks, beep sport balls, braille books, sewing aids, appliances and more.

• Lions may also help to purchase braille assistive devices for use with computers and other related technologies. View more information aboutbraille and a list of braille courses available at Hadley.

Accessibility

In cooperation with local authorities, Lions clubs often help improve public access for the blind and visually impaired. Among these improvements are: smooth sidewalks, sidewalks that slope at the curbs for wheelchair accessibility, audible (beep) traffic signals and braille marked walking trails. Lions may also be involved in establishing transportation services in communities where accessible transportation does not exist.

Associations

Governments, non-profit organizations and religious groups are among the agencies that advocate for the visually impaired. Lions clubs often donate funds, as well as their time, to associations for the blind and visually impaired. Among the services offered are: counseling, education, low vision programs and equipment, medical services, recreation and rehabilitation.

Support Groups

Hospitals, clinics, mental health facilities and senior centers often organize self-help groups for people with visual impairments or their family members. Lions often volunteer their time to help organize and provide continued support for self-help groups.

Medical Research

Many Lions clubs provide funding for medical research conducted at local universities, hospitals and private facilities.  Some Lions clubs or districts provide ongoing support for medical research through the sponsorship of eye research fellowships.

For More Information

For more information, contact the Health and Children's Services Department.