Advocates For Blind Children
Content
Advocates Blind Children
for
Advocates
Blind Children
One Vision ABC helps families of blind children receive access to services at school and in the community
http://www.AdvocatesForBlindChildren.com
for
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…
• • •
“…One of the most extraordinary men of our era...“ ~ Steve Forbes
•
13+ bestselling books translated into multiple languages and shared throughout the world
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 Blind Children
for
for
Advocates
Blind Children
One Vision ABC helps families of blind children receive access to services at school and in the community
http://www.AdvocatesForBlindChildren.com
for
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…
• • •
“…One of the most extraordinary men of our era...“ ~ Steve Forbes
•
13+ bestselling books translated into multiple languages and shared throughout the world
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 Blind Children
for
