2013 05-29-advocates-for-blind-children

Advocates for

Blind Children

Advocates for

Blind Children One Vision

ABC helps families of blind children receive access to services at school and in the community

http://www.AdvocatesForBlindChildren.com

Background • Oregon School for the Blind was closed in

2009 after 136 years of service

• State law promised "enhanced" services for students and budgeted nearly $3,000.000.

• Students were promised improved services in the expanded curriculum

Broken Promises… • Efforts to promote services were

thwarted

• Promised services were not implemented and the $3,000,000 was taken away

• Those working to get additional services were reprimanded and terminated

How We Came To Be • Advocates for Blind Children was started

by retired educators in Oregon • Determined to be advocates for blind

children and their families • Initially funded with proceeds from

lawsuit settlement • ABC successfully led and continues to

lead efforts to provide services for blind children

Oral Hull Foundation 50 year old foundation accepts Fiscal sponsorship: OralHull.org

Oral Hull provides recreational and educational opportunities for blind individuals

Why Blind Children

And Their Families

Need Advocacy Services

The Special Education System Complicated, Confusing, Complex

• Students are identified

• Assessments are conducted (by various experts)

• Teams of educational professionals meet • 6-8 professionals in attendance (many times even more)…

The Special Education System … usually one very overwhelmed mom Individualized Education Plan (IEP) Meetings

• Goals are often pre-written • Case loads are already determined • Service hours already budgeted

Parents of Blind Children Need Support

Lions Club Members Can Help

The Lions Club And The Blind Helen Keller – 1925 Lions International Convention

“I appeal to you Lions, you who have your sight, your hearing, you who are strong and brave and kind. Will you not constitute yourselves

Knights of the Blind…”

The “Knights Of The Blind”

4 Main Areas of Lions’ Clubs Service

1. Serving the youth

2. Serving the blind

3. Fighting hunger worldwide

4. Protecting the environment

Judge Brian Stevenson

Lions’ International President 1987-1988

Advocates For Blind Children Combines Two of Four Lions Areas Of Service

Serving the blind and serving the youth

ABC Proposes The Lions Advocacy Initiative Lions In Action - The Lions Measles Initiative

• 2012 Measles challenge • Raise $15 Million for Measles Vaccinations

• Gates Foundation Offer

• Donate $5 Million to match Lions’ $10 million

Lions Change Lives The Lions Measles Initiative

• Results • Lions raised $18 Million (Nearly Double!) • Bill and Melinda Gates added $12 Million • 41 million children vaccinated

• Literally Priceless

Lions Can Change Lives The Lions’ Advocacy Initiative

• Goals • Raise $15 Million to fund an endowment • Make advocacy programs available • Fund advocacy programs in the United States and

Canada for generations

• Who’s On Board Already

• International Directors • Past International Directors • Our Secret weapon…

The Lions’ Advocacy Initiative Mr. Jim Stovall

• 1999-2000 Lions Club International Humanitarian

• New York Times Bestseller

• Emmy Award Winner

• Featured in USA Today, on Fox news, and in hundreds of other mainstream publications…

• 13+ bestselling books translated into multiple languages and shared throughout the world

“…One of the most extraordinary men of our era...“

~ Steve Forbes

Mr. Jim Stovall New York Times Bestseller

Emmy Award Winner USA Today, Fox news, Forbes

The Lions’ Advocacy Initiative Mr. Jim Stovall

• “The Ultimate Gift” released by 20th Century Fox • Film release events • Fundraising opportunities • Awareness opportunities

• Results

• $27 million was raised for local charities around the country

The Lions’ Advocacy Initiative The Ultimate Life

• Movie Premiere Launch Events Goals • Raise $10 million • $5 Million matching grant • Create blind advocacy programs for

generations to come

• We Need You

• District Advocacy Chair • Zone Advocacy Chairs • Local Club Advocates

The Lions’ Advocacy Initiative Your Next Steps

• Speak with your Regional Coordinator

• Change children’s lives for

generations to come

http://www.AdvocatesForBlindChildren.com

Advocates for

Blind Children