Lions Services

06/05/2026

🚨 Blog Alert! 🚨

Celebrating the Charlotte Braille Trail Reveal! 🎉

Read more about this special event and view photos and videos from the reveal. Click the link below to learn how the Charlotte Braille Trail is creating a more accessible and inclusive community for individuals who are blind and low vision.

Please share your own photos and videos on social media and tag Lions Services!

Click on the link below:
https://lionsservices.org/blog/celebrating-the-charlotte-braille-trail-reveal

More than 250 people joined us to open the first phase of the Charlotte Braille Trail on Global Accessibility Awareness Day — a multi-sensory celebration of accessibility, art, and inclusion in the heart of our city.

06/05/2026

Introducing Lions HEART Counseling Services – Free Support for Emotional Wellness

WHO- Lions Services is proud to offer FREE Lions HEART Counseling Services to Individuals who are blind, low vision, caregivers, or anyone experiencing stress, anxiety, emotional overwhelm, or life transitions who could benefit from counseling and emotional support services.
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WHAT- Lions HEART Counseling Services provide a confidential and supportive space to:
• Process life challenges and emotional stress
• Build coping and grounding skills
• Strengthen emotional regulation
• Improve communication and problem-solving
• Navigate change with greater confidence
Services are offered through the Lions HEART program, which focuses on health equity, accessibility, and emotional wellness for individuals with vision loss.
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WHY- People with vision loss experience significantly higher rates of depression, anxiety, isolation, and barriers to accessing mental health care. Lions HEART was created to reduce these disparities by offering accessible, compassionate support that promotes resilience, independence, and overall wellbeing.
You do not have to face challenges alone.
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WHERE- In-Person Appointments
Lions Services
Mondays from 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Telehealth Appointments
Additional sessions available by scheduling.

To Schedule an Appointment
Call or Text:
(980) 263-9282
Provider
Donna Jean Breece
Therapist / Student Intern
North Carolina Youth Violence Prevention Center

06/04/2026

Thank you to our Braille Trail Project sponsors for helping make Charlotte a more inclusive and accessible community!

Opening the first phase of the Charlotte Braille Trail on Global Accessibility Awareness Day marked a milestone for inclusion in our city. The trail is a critical first step to create a community that offers everyone the opportunity for a life of connection and choice.

We are profoundly grateful for everyone who had a role in making this a reality. From the artists who created the multi-sensory masterpieces along the trail, to the partners who enabled the integrated audio technology, to all of you who support Lions Services with your time and treasure, we could not have made this a reality without your partnership.

We're seeking additional community partners to help expand the impact of the Charlotte Braille Trail Project. If you are interested in learning more about how you can support this transformative initiative, please contact Dana Draa- [email protected]

Stay tuned Braille Trail Reveal pictures coming soon!

05/28/2026

Raven Joiner, Lions Services Braille Trail Manager, Ambassador and the 2025 Knight Emerging City Champions Fellowship, shares her powerful story of vision loss and what the Braille Trail means to our community creating accessibility, independence, and connection for all. Knight Foundation

05/28/2026

VIP Spring Fling this Saturday! Sign up now to reserve your spot.

Big event with adaptive sports, yoga, games, drumming, presentations, vendor tables, and food

Meet representatives from Disability Rights and Resources, Achilles International, HumanWare, CATS, DSB, Lions Services, the NC Assistive Technology Program, the American Federation of the Blind, Queens Corner, Good Sense Vision Services, and more.

10 a.m.-2 p.m. May 30 at the Methodist Home Recreation Center, 3200 Shamrock Drive. Register at the link below or scan the QR code on the flyer.

https://hubs.ly/Q04h_XZv0

05/22/2026

We’re excited to share that the Braille Trail is open! 🎉 Thank you for helping us raise awareness for accessibility, inclusion, and the blind & low vision community in Charlotte. Check out the story link in the comments!

05/21/2026

Thank you,@ Charlotte Area Chamber of Commerce for joining us for the Ribbon cutting of the New Charlotte Braille Trail!

05/20/2026

We can’t wait! Tomorrow is The Charlotte Braille Trail Community Reveal! Join us as we celebrate accessibility, inclusion, and this exciting new addition to our community.
Registration link in the comments section:

⬜Thu, May 21, 2026 at 10:00 AM
📍4600 N Tryon St, Charlotte, NC 28213, USA

05/15/2026

At 25 years old, Starkey lost his eyesight due to complications from diabetes. After 28 surgeries and eventually receiving a kidney and pancreas transplant, his diabetes was gone but his blindness remained permanent.

What could have been a life defined by loss became a story of purpose and independence through Lions Services.

Since 2015, Starkey has been a proud employee at Lions Services, where he found more than a job he found community, confidence, and the ability to provide for his family again.

Stories like Starkey’s are why Lions Services exists. Every day, we help individuals who are blind and visually impaired gain meaningful employment, independence, and hope for the future.
Together, we are creating opportunities and building a more inclusive community for all.

You can help us continue changing lives. Please consider becoming a monthly donor to help Lions Services serve more individuals who are blind and visually impaired with life-changing programs, employment opportunities, and support. To learn more: https://lionsservices.org/donate/

05/13/2026

Friends and valued community partners,

As a reminder, we warmly invite you to join us for the Charlotte Braille Trail Community Reveal. Please share this invitation widely, as this is a unique opportunity to celebrate people of ALL abilities and the power of inclusive community design.

This event comes at an emotional time for Lions Services. Like many organizations across the country, we are navigating significant challenges, including a recent reduction in force that has deeply impacted members of our team and community. Yet even in difficult seasons, we believe it is important to continue building spaces that inspire hope, belonging, and visibility for people with disabilities.

The Braille Trail stands as a reminder that accessibility is not an afterthought yet a community infrastructure. It is a symbol of resilience, independence, creativity, and the belief that every person deserves to fully experience and navigate the city they call home.

What began as an idea has become a collaborative vision brought to life by artists, advocates, public partners, businesses, and neighbors who believe Charlotte can lead with inclusion. Especially now, we believe this celebration should move forward because our community needs moments of connection, joy, and shared purpose.

We hope you will walk the trail with us, experience the art and sensory elements firsthand, and help us honor the incredible individuals who inspired this work. Please RSVP link in comments section below- we have had an amazing response to this event, and we want to account for everyone that will join us.

Thank you for continuing to stand beside Lions Services and the blind and low vision community.