Lions Services is How Good Work Gets Done
We Employ Charlotte-Area Adults Who are Blind or Visually Impaired
We help people with vision loss prosper through the programs and services we offer.
Our Mission is Clear
Empowering people who are blind to achieve personal and economic independence by providing them with vocational rehabilitation and employment opportunities.
Lions Services is a 501(c)(3) tax- exempt organization and your donation is tax-deductible as allowed by law.
Our Values
We treat each other, and ourselves with respect. We commit to making quality work for the first time. We embrace opportunities to learn and grow. We appreciate and care for one another. We all take ownership of our collective sucess.
Our Vision
Create a world where blind and visually impaired individuals can feel empowered through meaningful employment while building a strong community together.
Our Culture
We are a close-knit family where we enjoy making quality products. We succeed in an accessible atmosphere of personal and professional growth. We have an inclusive community where everyone can be themselves.
Deep Roots in the Charlotte Community
Providing employment opportunities to the blind and visually impaired community, including blind veterans for more than 85 years to build confidence and provide independence in the Charlotte Community!
Deep Roots in the Charlotte Community
Providing employment opportunities to the blind and visually impaired community, including blind veterans for more than 85 years to build confidence and provide independence in the Charlotte Community!
A Path to Self-Sufficiency
Creating job opportunities for individuals who are blind and visually impaired and promoting their
independence is crucial for fostering inclusivity and empowering them to lead fulfilling lives.
Orientation & Mobility
Empowering blind individuals with mobility skills is crucial for fostering their independence and enriching their lives. Various methods exist for delivering mobility training, tailored to each person’s unique requirements, capabilities, and choices. At Lions Services, we are committed to equipping all visually impaired team members with orientation and mobility training, both at the onset of their employment and throughout their tenure with us. This encompasses instruction in cane usage and guide dog navigation, among other techniques.
Ever pondered how you’d manage daily routines like selecting outfits, reading mail, or cooking meals if you were visually impaired or blind? Thankfully, there’s a wealth of adaptive technology and devices to make these tasks achievable. Lions Services steps in by aiding the acquisition of assistive devices through the Blind Support Fund. From handheld magnifiers to talking watches and beyond, we ensure individuals have access to the tools they need for greater independence and enhanced job performance.
Our History is Deep
In 1935, the Charlotte Central Lions Club founded the Charlotte Workshop for the Blind to employ WWI veterans to re-cane chairs. In 1975, the company was incorporated as a nonprofit textile manufacturer to provide vocational rehabilitation for people who are blind and became known as Lions Services, Inc. The Agency has evolved into a manufacturer of products for the Department of Defense under the Congressional Javits-Wagner-O’Day Act. Lions Services is a respected affiliate of National Industries for the Blind and has received the Javits-Wagner-O’Day Program award from the Defense Logistics Agency for consistently producing excellent quality products. In 2010, Lions Services became ISO 9001:2008 certified.
In 1935, the Charlotte Central Lions Club founded the Charlotte Workshop for the Blind to employ WWI veterans to re-cane chairs. In 1975, the company was incorporated as a nonprofit textile manufacturer to provide vocational rehabilitation for people who are blind and became known as Lions Services, Inc. The Agency has evolved into a manufacturer of products for the Department of Defense under the Congressional Javits-Wagner-O’Day Act. Lions Services is a respected affiliate of National Industries for the Blind and has received the Javits-Wagner-O’Day Program award from the Defense Logistics Agency for consistently producing excellent quality products. In 2010, Lions Services became ISO 9001:2008 certified.
Our History is Deep
In 1935, the Charlotte Central Lions Club founded the Charlotte Workshop for the Blind to employ WWI veterans to re-cane chairs. In 1975, the company was incorporated as a nonprofit textile manufacturer to provide vocational rehabilitation for people who are blind and became known as Lions Services, Inc. The Agency has evolved into a manufacturer of products for the Department of Defense under the Congressional Javits-Wagner-O’Day Act. Lions Services is a respected affiliate of National Industries for the Blind and has received the Javits-Wagner-O’Day Program award from the Defense Logistics Agency for consistently producing excellent quality products. In 2010, Lions Services became ISO 9001:2008 certified.
In 1935, the Charlotte Central Lions Club founded the Charlotte Workshop for the Blind to employ WWI veterans to re-cane chairs. In 1975, the company was incorporated as a nonprofit textile manufacturer to provide vocational rehabilitation for people who are blind and became known as Lions Services, Inc. The Agency has evolved into a manufacturer of products for the Department of Defense under the Congressional Javits-Wagner-O’Day Act. Lions Services is a respected affiliate of National Industries for the Blind and has received the Javits-Wagner-O’Day Program award from the Defense Logistics Agency for consistently producing excellent quality products. In 2010, Lions Services became ISO 9001:2008 certified.
Our Commitment to the Blind Community is Strong
In 1938, Congress passed the Wagner-O’Day Act to provide employment opportunities for people who are blind enabling them to manufacture products for Federal Government customers. In 1971, under the direction of Senator Jacob Javits, the Act was amended (41 U.S.C. 46-48c) and renamed the Javits-Wagner-O’Day Act (JWOD). The Committee for Purchase from People Who Are Blind administers the JWOD program and in 2006, changed the program name to AbilityOne. The program now includes people with severe disabilities and allows services to be provided to Federal customers. Two national, independent, nonprofit agencies operate under JWOD; National Industries for the Blind and National Industries for the Severely handicapped. The primary goal of the AbilityOne program is to employ and create training opportunities for people who are blind or severely handicapped. The means of accomplishing this goal is to encourage Government agencies to purchase selected products and services from NIB and NISH affiliates. As a result, employees under AbilityOne are able to lead a more productive and independent life.
