Lions ROAR– Resources for Opportunity, Access and Resilience

Our ROAR Fund- Resources for Opportunity, Access and Resilience is an extension of our mission, providing eligible employees up to $250 annually to purchase adaptive technology or personal tools that support their independence and productivity. Since its inception, ROAR has enabled dozens of employees to acquire customized tools such as Ray-Ban smart glasses, health monitoring devices, long white canes, digital magnifiers, and accessible household tools. The program complements our broader ecosystem of support, including the Lions DENN (Digital Equity Navigation Network), Lions HEART (Health Equity & Accessible Resource Training), and Lions CARE initiatives—each focused-on accessibility, health equity, and workforce development. This integrated model ensures that the ROAR Fund is not a standalone effort, but part of a wraparound strategy designed to remove barriers and promote long-term success.

Through the ROAR Fund, we anticipate continued and measurable outcomes that include:

  • Increased independence for blind and visually impaired employees in both work and daily life.
  • Improved job retention and satisfaction by equipping employees with tools tailored to their specific functional needs.
  • Greater engagement in personal health and mobility, with more employees adopting tools that enhance safety and well-being.
  • Enhanced integration with our digital training programs, such as JAWS and ZoomText instruction through the Lions DENN.

“Hi, I’m Cassidy Hooper, an employee at Lions Services. I recently had the opportunity to try out the new META Ray-Ban smart glasses, and it’s been an incredible experience. For someone with vision loss like me, the built-in speakers and voice control have made everyday tasks easier, from listening to music to making hands-free calls. I’m excited about the potential of this technology to offer more accessibility features in the future, and I can’t wait to see how it evolves to further support people in the blind and low vision community.”