MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - In Alabama there are about 1,200 children who are low-vision, and so far, Sight Savers of America says it helped about two thirds of them. One by one, they plan to aid every child in the state. Wednesday, they helped students at the Southwest Regional School for the Deaf and Blind in Mobile.
Eight-year-old Jaluan Dumas is exploring a whole new world, thanks to Sight Savers America.
His mother, Laquana Thomas, said "He's getting to do more, see more and learn more. It’s really exciting."
Thomas is looking forward to all of the possibilities this new equipment will bring.
"He’ll be able to see a lot more. With his vision, sometimes reading is hard for him. With this new TV that they're giving him, it’ll be able to expand all the numbers and letters he is supposed to be learning."
Jaluan was given a closed circuit television magnifier which enlarges objects up to 75 times. It has camera that flips around and sees distances, even outside.
Linda Long, the Communications Director at Sight Savers America said, "It’s just amazing. Everything is a new experience for them because they've never seen anything like this before. It truly opened up their lives and really levels the playing field for these kids. That’s what we're trying to do - get their needs met so they can see."
The gift of enhanced sight was given by this low vision clinic. A specialist from the University of Alabama at Birmingham evaluates kids who are visually impaired in some way. The specialist then determines exactly what vision aid is needed.
Long added, "We have hand-held magnifiers, telescopes, just a variety of different levels whatever their needs are."
The clinic offers a variety of visual enhancing equipment which magnifies at different levels. It not only enhances the child's sight, but self-esteem as well.
Long said, "It really has an incredible impact on their lives. Kids just open up, and they blossom and realize they can do things other people can do. We have so many success stories."
Jeff Haddox, President of Sight Savers America, added, "You have kids who can see very little - often can't tell the difference between their mother and father looking at their face. When they have this kind of equipment, they really can see to do things that we take for granted. It changes their lives. It allows them to be much more motivated, much more independent, and often you can see the change in their attitude."
For these students, there's now no limit to what they can do.
Sight Savers was able to run the clinic and provide free vision aid to the students through grants, fundraisers and donations. For more information about the clinic, or to make a donation, log on to the Sight Savers website or call 205-942-2627, ext. 227.
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