Advancing Sight Network – $25,000
advancingsight.org Advancing Sight supplies human tissue for transplantation and research to UAB and to other institutions. Advancing Sight has provided eye tissue in 49 states and 56 countries. The ESFA grant will be used to purchase equipment to help assess the health of human eye cells.
Alabama Institute for Deaf & Blind Foundation – $5,000
aidb.org The AIDB Foundation supports Alabamians of all ages who have vision and hearing loss and are multi-disabled. The ESFA grant will be used to purchase artificial intelligence-enhanced glasses for trial by AIDB students. The eye glasses, equipped with audio and camera capabilities, could be life-changing for individuals who are blind and visually impaired.
Bell Center – $8,845
thebellcenter.org The Bell Center is dedicated to maximizing the potential of children from birth to three years of age who are at risk for developmental delay. Infants and toddlers receive services from transdisciplinary teams which include a physical therapist, an occupational therapist, a speech-language pathologist and an early childhood special education teacher as each child works on specific individual developmental goals. Understanding what children are able to see is paramount for adapting therapy to their individual needs. ESFA funds will be used for functional vision assessments, toys and technology to stimulate children during therapy, and to support the many therapists who work with vision-challenged children.
Downtown Rescue Mission – $15,180
downtownrescuemission.org Downtown Rescue Mission in Hunstville offers free eye exams by a volunteer optometrist to homeless people and those escaping abuse. ESFA funds are used to provide eye glasses for those who need corrective lenses.
Enable (CASA) Madison County – $3,449
enablemadisoncounty.org Enable Madison County provides services to the aging and homebound that enables them to live independently, safely and with dignity. ESFA funds will be used to purchase corrective lenses for Enable clients.
Community Services for Vision Rehabilitation – $20,000
csvrlowvision.org CSVR’s mission is to provide accessible, modern, comprehensive, compassionate and multidisciplinary care to those with vision loss or blindness. ESFA funds will be used to provide low vision evaluations.
Impact America – $30,000
impactamerica.com/focusfirst Impact America performs high-tech vision screenings for children, ages 6 months to five years, in under-resourced day care centers. All children who fail vision screens receive free or subsidized follow-up care coordination through Sight Savers America. ESFA funds will support vision screens for preschoolers throughout the state.
Kid One Transport System – $4,676
www.kidone.org Kid One Transport provides transportation to health care appointments for children and expectant mothers. ESFA funds will be used to support transportation to appointments with eye and vision care providers.
Presbyterian Home for Children – $7,663
phfc.org/union-village In partnership with Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind, Presbyterian Home for Children offers a permanent supportive housing community called Union Village for individuals who are deaf, blind or deafblind. Adaptive and safety equipment for Union Village homes will be funded by ESFA.
Sight Savers America – $110,000
sightsaversamerica.org Sight Savers America works to identify and secure the eye care needs of children, from their first pair of eyeglasses to extensive sight-saving treatment and high-tech vision aids for those with severe visual impairment. Sight Savers also provides adaptive and assistive devices to blind and vision-impaired adults. ESFA funds will support follow-up eye care services to children; low vision and blind services to children and adults across Alabama.
Travelers Aid Society – $5,000
travelersaidbirmingham.com Travelers Aid Senior Ride program makes free rides for health needs available to low income elderly and disabled adults who are transportation disadvantaged. ESFA funds will be used to provide transportation to meet vision and eye care needs.
United Ability – $9,3000
unitedability.org United Ability provides innovative services connecting people with disabilities to their communities and empowering individuals to live full and meaningful lives. ESFA funds will be used to support vision services to both children and adults.
UAB Center for Low Vision Rehabilitation – $145,000
uab.edu/medicine/ophthalmology/clinical/clvr The UAB Center for Low Vision Rehabilitation is a multidisciplinary research and rehabilitation center that provides quality patient care, teaching, and research related to vision rehabilitation in order to help persons with low vision lead more satisfying and productive lives. Vision rehab is for persons whose vision cannot be corrected with glasses, contact lenses, or other treatments. Experts in ophthalmology, optometry, occupational therapy, and psychology combine their knowledge to meet the special needs of each patient. ESFA funds support the time-consuming provision of care to this special group of patients.
UAB Department of Ophthalmology – $1,000,000
https://www.uab.edu/medicine/ophthalmology UAB’s Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences (DOVS) teaches, trains and equips residents with the skills needed to provide comprehensive eye care, including surgery, to patients. Further, UAB DOVS conducts research with the goal of finding new cures and treatments for blinding diseases.