Children with severe visual impairments get donation of life-changing assistive technology
Affordability and limited resources due to the cost of assistive devices, technology, or other learning aids, make it hard for families to get vision care for their children according to a medical institute.
The National Institute of Medicine states that "25% of all children have a vision problem significant enough to affect their performance in school," and a properly working visual system is critical to aid those students in improving their academic performance.
Donations from Acrobat HD Ultra Desktop Electronic Video Magnifiers and other assistive technology from Sight Savers America made it possible for children with severe visual impairment in the Lafayette area to benefit from technological innovations created to improve their eyesight, thanks to funding from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana and Vispero.
"The quality of life is important at Blue Cross, and our mission is the health and well being of all Louisianans, and I believe providing this kind of funding is a part of our mission," said Kelly Duhon, corporate giving program manager for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana.
Kyri Boudin, a 13-year-old recipient of the Electronic Video Magnifiers (EVMs) device was diagnosed with optic nerve hypoplasia. "Today I got a RUBY and a EMV, which comes with a case that I can roll wherever I go. I can take the device everywhere like to school, on vacation and or use it at home which I like the most," said Boudin.
Boudin was blind at birth, and underwent surgery a year later but still has 20/200 vision without glasses. "This device gives her so much independence being at home and school, and allows her to explore more than what she is used to. If she can have this independence then she can problem solve more on her own, and won't need much help which gives more confidence," said Turner, Boudin's mom.
During the clinic, each child is trained by Sight Savers America’s staff to use the equipment before they take it home, and they can keep the device for as long as needed. Sight Savers America also provides extensive follow-up, and refresher training, maintains and repairs the equipment as needed, and keeps records for analysis of their progress with the vision equipment.
The EVM allows each child to make the most of his or her remaining vision. "This device dramatically enhances contrast and magnifies objects up to 118 times and will open up a new world of opportunity, allowing them to read, write, do homework, groom themselves, and even see their loved ones’ faces clearly," states a press release by SSA.
Similarly, the RUBY device is a smaller, on-the-go video 4.3-inch screen magnifier, that magnifies items from 2 to 14 times the original size.
These devices are more expensive than the average family can afford and are not covered by any type of medical insurance, stated the release.
According to Statista, research from financial website Earnin shows that 54 percent of people in the U.S. have delayed medical care in the past 12 months because they couldn't afford it. The most commonly delayed types of care resulting from a lack of money are dental or orthodontic work (55 percent), eye care (43 percent), and annual exams (30 percent).
The nationally expanding nonprofit organization, SSA, offers services at no cost to qualifying individuals. These services include eye programs, low vision programs, and screening programs.
Sight Savers America now serves children in 16 states, including Louisiana.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: Children with severe visual impairments receive assistive technology
