DAYTONA BEACH — The Conklin Center for the Blind, which had announced it would close its doors for good on Friday following a series of scathing allegations by state officials, will instead remain open.

At least for the time being.

Nancy Epps, a Conklin Center board member, said a portion of the 41-year-old nonprofit’s clients will continue to receive services for at least another week or two. In fulfilling its unique mission to work with people with blindness and at least one other disability, Conklin provided training to residential clients and then, upon graduation, offered continued coaching to individuals living independently in the Daytona Beach area.

The residential clients have all been moved; either back home or to the Division of Blind Services across White Street from Conklin’s facility. The division had been the source of funding for the Conklin Center, but cut funding after determining the center had breached its contract in ways “that present potential to endanger the health, safety and welfare of the clients.”

But a state payment for services rendered in January and February was enough to avoid closing on Friday, Epps said.

“We have found funding to continue the services to our clients in the community for a short time until we can get the longer term plan in place,” Epps wrote in a text message.

DAYTONA BEACH &mdash; The Conklin Center for the Blind, which had announced it would&nbsp;<a href="https://www.news-journalonline.com/news/20200302/conklin-center-for-blind-in-daytona-to-close-friday-after-damaging-state-findings" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.news-journalonline.com/news/20200302/conklin-center-for-blind-in-daytona-to-close-friday-after-damaging-state-findings&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1583678383834000&amp;usg=AFQjCNE1twn015iX4YOQthrTLLO-GGx3Cg">close its doors for good on Friday</a>&nbsp;following a series of scathing allegations by state officials, will instead remain open.
At least for the time being.
Nancy Epps, a Conklin Center board member, said a portion of the 41-year-old nonprofit&rsquo;s clients will continue to receive services for at least another week or two. In fulfilling its unique mission to work with people with blindness and at least one other disability, Conklin provided training to residential clients and then, upon graduation, offered continued coaching to individuals living independently in the Daytona Beach area.
The residential clients have all been moved; either back home or to the Division of Blind Services across White Street from Conklin&rsquo;s facility. The division had been the source of funding for the Conklin Center, but cut funding after determining the center had breached its contract in ways &ldquo;that present potential to endanger the health, safety and welfare of the clients.&rdquo;
But a state payment for services rendered in January and February was enough to avoid closing on Friday, Epps said.
&ldquo;We have found funding to continue the services to our clients in the community for a short time until we can get the longer term plan in place,&rdquo; Epps wrote in a text message.

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Florida-Daytona Conklin Center for blind to remain open for now

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