The Organization -

    The Raleigh Lions Clinic for the Blind is a private nonprofit rehabilitation facility. Since it was established on November 15, 1966, the Clinic has provided vocational evaluation, medical services, work adjustment training and limited transitional employment for persons who are blind or visually impaired throughout North Carolina. The Raleigh (Host) Lions Club sponsors the Clinic in cooperation with the Division of Services for the Blind, a state agency.

Physical Facility -

    The original physical plant, consisting of 81,250 square feet, was located at 315 Hubert Street in Raleigh.  We also ran our cutting operation out of a 25,000 square foot facility in Garner for many years.  In July, 2006, we moved to our current location at 3200 Bush Street in Raleigh, which gave us 237,000 square feet sitting on approximately 20 acres of land.  This gave us the opportunity to combine manufacturing operations under the same roof.

NIB - Serving persons who are blind for almost 70 years -

    National Industries for the Blind (NIB), established in 1938 as the result of an Act of Congress, distributes Federal Government contracts to workshops employing persons who are blind.  This organization brings valuable services to the Raleigh Lions Clinic for the Blind, Inc.

    Originally known as the Wagner-O'Day Act, this legislation was amended in 1971 to provide for purchase of both products and services from agencies serving individuals who are blind, and to include agencies serving persons with other severe disabilities.  It was then known as the Javits-Wagner-O'Day Act, or JWOD.  In 2006, the Committee for Purchase decided to change the umbrella name from JWOD to AbilityOne.