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A spectacular gift
Published September 23, 2008
Three brothers from Higdon received a spectacular gift from Sight Savers of America recently that will help them in both school and leisure.
Kendal, Benjamin and Payne Workman are legally blind and have dealt with low vision and color blindness their entire lives. The boys received not one, but two CCTV's (closed circuit television). The CCTV's will allow the boys to magnify anything they put under the device.
Kendal and Ben received eye exams through school in kindergarten, second and fourth grades. Payne received an eye exam in kindergarten. During the exams, which are provided free to all children in kindergarten, second and fourth grade each year, students are given a routine eye exam as well as having pictures taken of their eyes. Any abnormal results from the exams are turned over to Sight Savers of America in order to help children receive the equipment they need.
Through Sight Savers of America, the Workman's were set up with Dr. Dawn DeCarlo at the UAB Eye Foundation Hospital. All three were diagnosed with an incomplete form of achromatopsia.
According to webmd.com, achromatopsia is a hereditary condition in which people lack certain receptors in their retinas, causing them to be nearly or completely colorblind and to have poor visual acuity. It is an inherited condition that affects only one in every 33,000 Americans.
"They can see somewhat," said their mother. "If someone was sitting on the porch, they could tell that a person was there, but not who it was."
The boys have to get extremely close to something in order to see it. Needless to say, schoolwork is difficult as well as anything extracurricular like model cars or airplanes.
"Children who suffer with low vision often have sight robbing conditions such as optic nerve damage, congenital cataracts, and detached retinas, all serious conditions which threaten to rob them of the little vision they have," said Linda Long of Sight Savers of America. "Most of these children can be helped and their vision greatly enhanced by sight assistive technology. But, sadly, many Alabama families can't afford low vision evaluations of the very expensive vision aids which could give their children help and hope."
The CCTV's can help with both schoolwork and fun activities.
On the day the brothers received their CCTV's, members of Sight Savers came out to their home to install the devices. They also took time with each family member to ensure they knew how to operate the devices.
Each brother received one-on-one training with both CCTV's, which enlarge anything up to 75 percent. The device is equipped with a moveable stage and several different color modes.
"This is cool," said Payne as he used the CCTV for the very first time. "Oh it's really easy."
Having the CCTV's will keep the boys from getting eye fatigue as quickly. It will also allow them to read longer with getting headaches from straining.
"As the boys get older, the print in the books gets smaller," said their mother. "This is going to help a lot in the Accelerated Reader books that Kendall has to read for school."
Sight Savers of America has a 300 member volunteer network of eye care professionals that provide eye exams, eyeglasses, transportation, vision and blind aids, prescribed treatments and low vision clinics to families.
"The rehabilitation services division of Sight Savers coordinates care for children who are legally blind by providing assistive technology and in home training to children and families all over the state, all at no charge," said Long.
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