In 1945, realizing there was a need for blind and visually impaired persons to have a social outlet Mrs. Clark organized an Adult Blind Club. Twice a month, a handicraft teacher would come down from Sacramento to teach arts and crafts.

It soon became apparent that the blind needed a center of their own which would be available daily. Here they would have varied classes, a place where they could socialize, have dances, play cards, listen to the radio, or just visit and teach each other how to rehabilitate themselves.

The great benefit of a center would be rehabilitation of the blind, not just vocational rehabilitation, but social rehabilitation, helping an individual with little hope to be made to feel useful and to look to the future with courage.

In 1949, after the February meeting, Mrs. Clark turned to the Stockton Lions Club for assistance. The Lions showed great interest in the project and agreed to pay a reasonable rental if suitable quarters could be found. A building was rented at 17 West Oak Street and we moved in on July 12 with the help of many local organizations and individuals. This home was to serve as our center for almost three years.

1951 found us moving to 321 West Flora Street so that we could accommodate the growing number of clients coming to us for services. This was the year that our annual Thanksgiving Dinner and Christmas Party were started and continue to this day.

It was evident that even our new center was too small to host all the events that we wanted to have. So a new project was at hand to find a more permanent location for the Blind Center. We found a lot that was perfect for our new home. Our new (and current) center was completed at 130 West Flora Street on January 5, 1966.

Since our incorporation as a private non-profit 501c(3) in May of 1949, we have served thousands of blind and visually impaired persons of San Joaquin County and we are proud to have the support and dedication of our local businesses and our community.

Our Mission

The mission is to assist the blind and visually impaired in the greater San Joaquin County area.  The Center provides programs that address the emotional, recreational, vocational, social and rehabilitation needs of clients.  Services provided to clients are designed to:

• promote cognizance of their potential and self-worth
• maximize independent functioning
• prevent institutionalization
• and enhance integration into the general mainstream of society.