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FWISD Observed World Sight Day by Distributing Free Glasses to Nearly 200 Students
The Fort Worth ISD observed World Sight Day this month by distributing nearly 200 pairs of free eyeglasses to students and educating parents about the importance of proper eye care.
Students at Clifford Davis Elementary School received the eyeglasses at no cost through a partnership between the District, the Alcon Foundation, Community Eye Clinic and the University of North Texas Health Science Center.
This video captures the excitement of both students and their parents.
“I’m extremely grateful for this work our partners are doing and I’m excited for our children,” said Dr. Cherie Washington, Chief of Student Support Services.
District organizers for FWISD’s World Sight Day event say eyesight correction has a direct impact on students’ academic success. Without it, they may struggle as they learn to read or even solve a math problem.
“The goal is to empower all students to say ‘my eyes are ready to learn,’” said Presciliana Olayo, FWISD Vision Care Services coordinator.
The Alcon Foundation gave free comprehensive eye exams to students at Clifford Davis Elementary and vision screenings to students at seven other FWISD elementary schools on September 23. Of the students who received eye exams at Clifford Davis, 186 were recommended for eyeglasses.
Approximately one-third of FWISD students lack eye correction and many are without access to eye care services, according to the Alcon Foundation. Throughout the 2021-2022 academic year, FWISD’s grant-funded Children’s Vision Care Program intends to provide free vision screenings and comprehensive eye exams to 35,000 students at all 77 Title I elementary schools in the District. Alcon Foundation volunteers are expected to provide vision screenings at those same 77 schools this semester.
The FWISD Board of Education, on September 28, approved a three-year partnership agreement between the District and the Alcon Foundation to operate a free school-based eye care center at the Western Hills Family Resource Center on the Western Hills Elementary School campus. District officials say the school-based eye care center will offer free eyecare services to FWISD’s under-served students under 18 in efforts of reducing barriers that impact a child’s health, wellbeing and academic readiness. Recently, volunteers from the Alcon Foundation participated in painting a mural on the exterior wall of the new clinic.
The Alcon Foundation has provided eye care services to pre-kindergarten through fifth grade FWISD students, reaching approximately 30% of the student population, for more than nine years.
For additional information about the Children’s Vision Care Program, contact Ms. Olayo at 817-814-2813 or email Presciliana.olayo@fwisd.org.
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