[Nfbf-l] FW: News journal article Division of Blind services celebration

Thu Apr 28 16:59:23 UTC 2016

This was truly a wonderful event.

Sent: Thursday, April 28, 2016 9:51 AM
Subject: News journal article Division of Blind services celebration 

NATIONAL LEADER IN SERVICES

A vision realized: Daytona Beach evolved into leader helping blind

Division of Blind Services celebrates 75 years in area

http://g52-dnweb.newscyclecloud.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=DN&Date=201604
27&Category=NEWS&ArtNo=160429507&Ref=AR&imageVersion=Main&MaxW=445&border=0

John Drummond and Shamara McCall learn about Blind Beep Ball from coach
Willie Scales and Meesha Jackson on Wednesday during the 75th anniversary
celebration of the Florida Division of Blind Services in Daytona Beach.
News-Journal/David Tucker

By Allison Shirk <http://www.news-journalonline.com/personalia/ashirk> 
allison.shirk at news-jrnl.com

Published: Wednesday, April 27, 2016 at 7:31 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, April 27, 2016 at 7:46 p.m.

The Florida Division of Blind Services reached a milestone anniversary this
month of helping blind and visually impaired people achieve and maintain
their independence for 75 years.

DBS began a year of celebrations Wednesday in Daytona Beach - a place where
resources for the blind far exceed other cities nationwide.

DBS Director Robert Doyle said he doesn't know of any other campus in the
country that provides as many comprehensive services in one spot as the
White Street location, which includes the DBS Rehabilitation Center for the
Blind and Visually Impaired, Bureau of Braille and Talking Book Library
Services and a Technology Training Center. Also on the campus and across the
street are two community rehabilitation centers that provide services for
DBS clients: the nonprofit Center for the Visually Impaired and the Florida
Lions Conklin Center for the Blind.

The afternoon event included informational sessions for the visually
impaired, businesses, families and anyone who was interested in learning
about resources for the blind. A ceremony highlighted those living with
visual impairments or blindness that have achieved success despite the
obstacles they face.

(READ: Blind Services celebrates 75 years at Daytona campus)
<http://www.news-journalonline.com/article/20160426/NEWS/160429575/0/search>

Lori McMullin, development director at the Conklin Center, said adult
students who live at the center come from throughout Florida and sometimes
from other states.

"Some elect to move here permanently after they are done with their
program," McMullin said. "They move here and help contribute to our society
and our economy."

Here are several accomplishments DBS, a division of the Florida Department
of Education, has achieved in the past 75 years with the help of other
organizations in town for the blind and visually impaired:

. The concept of the rehabilitation center for the blind was first created
in 1946 in the state and started with a small operation at the Holly Hill
Farmer's Market on 2nd Street led by the Florida Lions, said Edward Hudson,
the bureau chief of the Daytona Beach campus. 

. In 1948, the federal government provided a land grant for the Florida
Council of the Blind, the name at the time, to build the campus on White
Street, Hudson said. 

. In 1950, the Library of Congress authorized the Bureau of Braille and
Talking Book Library on the Daytona campus to distribute talking material
across the state of Florida. The library now serves more than 31,647 Florida
residents, and it is one of the largest libraries of its kind in the U.S.
with a collection of more than 2.4 million items in Braille and audio
format, according to DBS.

. The Daytona Beach rehabilitation center also holds training for blind
people to learn how to become entrepreneurs and owners of their own vending
facility, which includes cafeterias, snack bars and automatic vending
machines that are on federal property.

. The unemployment rate for working age adults who are blind is at 70
percent, but 80 percent of graduates from the Conklin Center become
employed, live in homes of their own choosing or continue their education,
according to Conklin Center statistics.

. The DBS campus and Conklin Center are the only two facilities in the state
that also provide residential living for the blind and visually impaired,
Hudson said.

. The Conklin Center is the only agency for the blind in Florida that offers
free lifelong supported employment and supporting living services to
graduates.

. 80 percent of early knowledge is learned through the sense of sight, so
Conklin started an early learning program for children from birth to age 6
to help them learn basic life skills. The agency is currently helping about
50 families and kids in Volusia, Flagler, Putnam and Brevard counties.

Adam Hill, 31, and his mother Grace attended the expo and ceremony
Wednesday. While waiting for the ceremony to begin, Grace explained they
were snowbirds from Massachusetts, and she just recently learned of all the
free home services the Daytona DBS campus provides for the blind. 

Adam said he loves sports and pulled a baseball cap with the Boston Red Sox
team logo on it from the bag attached to his wheelchair. He said that right
now he is doing iPad training at home with a specialist, and simply put, the
training is "so wonderful and so nice."

A vision realized: Daytona Beach evolved into leader helping blind
<http://www.news-journalonline.com/article/20160427/news/www.news-journalonl
ine.com/article/20160427/NEWS/160429507> By Allison Shirk
<http://www.news-journalonline.com/article/20160427/news/allison.shirk@news-
jrnl.com> 

John Drummond and Shamara McCall learn about Blind Beep Ball from coach
Willie Scales and Meesha Jackson on Wednesday during the 75th
anniversary...John Drummond and Shamara McCall learn about Blind Beep Ball
from coach Willie Scales and Meesha Jackson on Wednesday during the 75th
anniversary...

News-JournalOnline.com
<http://www.news-journalonline.com/article/20160427/news/www.news-journalonl
ine.com> April 27, 2016 7:46 PM

The Florida Division of Blind Services reached a milestone anniversary
this month of helping blind and visually impaired people achieve and
maintain their independence for 75 years.DBS began a year of
celebrations Wednesday in Daytona Beach - a place where resources for the
blind far exceed other cities nationwide.DBS Director Robert Doyle
said he doesn't know of any other campus in the country that provides as
many comprehensive services in one spot as the White Street location, which
includes the DBS Rehabilitation Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired,
Bureau of Braille and Talking Book Library Services and a Technology
Training Center. Also on the campus and across the street are two community
rehabilitation centers that provide services for DBS clients: the nonprofit
Center for the Visually Impaired and the Florida Lions Conklin Center for
the Blind.The afternoon event included informational sessions for the
visually impaired, businesses, families and anyone who was interested in
learning about resources for the blind. A ceremony highlighted those living
with visual impairments or blindness that have achieved success despite the
obstacles they face.<a
href="http://www.news-journalonline.com/article/20160426/NEWS/160429575/0/se
arch">(READ: Blind Services celebrates 75 years at Daytona
campus)</a>Lori McMullin, development director at the Conklin Center,
said adult students who live at the center come from throughout Florida and
sometimes from other states."Some elect to move here permanently
after they are done with their program," McMullin said. "They move here and
help contribute to our society and our economy."Here are several
accomplishments DBS, a division of the Florida Department of Education, has
achieved in the past 75 years with the help of other organizations in town
for the blind and visually impaired:. The concept of the
rehabilitation center for the blind was first created in 1946 in the state
and started with a small operation at the Holly Hill Farmer's Market on 2nd
Street led by the Florida Lions, said Edward Hudson, the bureau chief of the
Daytona Beach campus. . In 1948, the federal government provided a
land grant for the Florida Council of the Blind, the name at the time, to
build the campus on White Street, Hudson said. . In 1950, the Library
of Congress authorized the Bureau of Braille and Talking Book Library on the
Daytona campus to distribute talking material across the state of Florida.
The library now serves more than 31,647 Florida residents, and it is
one of the largest libraries of its kind in the U.S. with a collection of
more than 2.4 million items in Braille and audio format, according to
DBS.. The Daytona Beach rehabilitation center also holds
training for blind people to learn how to become entrepreneurs and owners of
their own vending facility, which includes cafeterias, snack bars and
automatic vending machines that are on federal
property.. The unemployment rate for working age adults who
are blind is at 70 percent, but 80 percent of graduates from the Conklin
Center become employed, live in homes of their own choosing or continue
their education, according to Conklin Center statistics.. The DBS
campus and Conklin Center are the only two facilities in the state that also
provide residential living for the blind and visually impaired, Hudson
said.. The Conklin Center is the only agency for the blind in Florida
that offers free lifelong supported employment and supporting living
services to graduates.. 80 percent of early knowledge is learned
through the sense of sight, so Conklin started an early learning program for
children from birth to age 6 to help them learn basic life skills. The
agency is currently helping about 50 families and kids in Volusia, Flagler,
Putnam and Brevard counties.Adam Hill, 31, and his mother Grace
attended the expo and ceremony Wednesday. While waiting for the ceremony to
begin, Grace explained they were snowbirds from Massachusetts, and she just
recently learned of all the free home services the Daytona DBS campus
provides for the blind. Adam said he loves sports and pulled a
baseball cap with the Boston Red Sox team logo on it from the bag attached
to his wheelchair. He said that right now he is doing iPad training at home
with a specialist, and simply put, the training is "so wonderful and so
nice."

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