WWe - Conklin Center for the Blind

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perspective ROBERT KELLY, Executive Director BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2006 – 2007 PRESIDENT Carl Franklin 1ST VICE PRESIDENT Donna Spencer, PDG 2ND VICE PRESIDENT Nina Vilaomat 3RD VICE PRESIDENT Delores Farris, PDG SECRETARY Robert Respess, PDG TREASURER Ron Melvin ASSISTANT TREASURER Robert Hughes, PCC IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT Don Cohn MEMBERS Estelle Clark Georgianna “Sam” Hester Pearl Salsbury Ted Mosely, Pres., Conklin Center Student Council Kevin Murphy Jackie Pappas Hillen Rife Cynthia Slater Tim Sullivan Erna Vanselow Robert Williams William Wyrough Joseph Young, Pres., Conklin Center Alumni Associates It is an honor to provide you with the annual report for the year ending June 30, 2007 - a celebration of the achievements of students, graduates and staff of the Florida Lions Conklin Center for the Blind. The Center’s students, who are blind and have at least one additional disability, face seemingly overwhelming challenges. To achieve their goal of becoming selfreliant, fully participating members of the community, they come to the Conklin Center from throughout the state of Florida. Since its inception in 1979, the Center remains the only facility that can provide - under one roof - an array of training options to meet the highly specialized needs of these significantly disabled individuals. During fiscal year 2007, as it has every five years since 1979, the Center completed a self-evaluation for renewal of its accreditation by NAC – the National Accreditation Council for Agencies Serving People with Blindness or Visual Impairment. In its final report, the NAC team (experts in the field of blindness training) affirmed some of the Conklin Center’s strengths: “Services provided by the Conklin Center to people with blindness and additional disabilities are unique and can be viewed as a model in FLORIDA LIONS the field of vision rehabilitation.” And “the organization is highly effective with the placement of their clients into their maximum level of employment, and in placing clients into the community at competitive wages.” The NAC team also made several recommendations to improve services. The most pressing is to hire an additional, qualified teacher for the Infant and Preschool program to reduce the work load of the current staff. The current staff consists of one Early Intervention Specialist who provided services to 46 children who are blind and 65 of their family members last year. This will be one of our goals for the coming year. With the support of dedicated staff and volunteers and friends in the community we remain committed to helping multi-disabled children and adults work hard to achieve their potential. Robert T. Kelly Executive Director FOR THE BLIND
who we served To help children and adults who are blind and have additional disabilities develop their potential for independence and participate fully in community life as productive, contributing citizens. Our vision is to reduce or eliminate dependence on institutional or homebound care. CENTER-BASED VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION PROGRAM Completed two-week evaluation (no other service provided) 28 Extended evaluations 7 Evaluation only 10 Benefit Achievers (Outcomes): employed, entered adult living situation or entered academic training after services 19 Total Served (duplicated) 40 COMMUNITY-BASED ADULT SERVICES Supported Employment/Supported Living Total Served 65 EARLY INTERVENTION PROGRAM Children served (from birth to six years of age) 46 Family members served 65 Total Served 111 Total Served (unduplicated) 208 jennifer’s story Jennifer was 21 when came to the Conklin Center from Broward County. At age 12, she had lost her vision and sustained a significant brain injury due to a tragic automobile accident that also resulted in the death of her mother. When she first arrived at the Center a few years ago, Jennifer was living with her aging grandparents who were fearful about what would happen to her when they were no longer able to care for her. Placement in a 24-hour care facility seemed like the only option. For Jennifer, living with a brain injury means the lack of short term memory and difficulty making decisions. She has some vision, but needs substantial help to be able to read. Jennifer successfully completed the Center’s independent living training program and today, she is proud to live in an apartment of her own. She continues to see one of our Supported Living Coaches who helps her twice a week with managing her finances and keeping track of cleaning and shopping routines. She maintains a very active social life on her own, using the public bus system to travel around town. WHO WE SERVED www.conklincenter.org 1
Page 4 and 5: PROGRAMS & SERVICES 2 www.conklince
Page 6 and 7: FINANCIAL POSITION 2007 4 www.conkl
Page 8 and 9: LIONS CLUBS DONATIONS 6 www.conklin
Page 10 and 11: donors JULY 1, 2006 - JUNE 30, 2007
Page 12 and 13: VOLUNTEER AWARDS volunteer awards O

WWe - Conklin Center for the Blind

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