A pair of glasses can do more than correct vision for a child. It can vastly improve their classroom performance. According to Learn4Life‘s Director of Strategy & Development, Dr. Rebecca Parshall, students have been able to make up two to four months’ worth of learning within a single academic year when their vision is corrected.
But eyewear and vision screenings are not easily accessible for all families within the Atlanta metro area. Approximately 47,000 elementary students in metro Atlanta who need glasses don’t have them. It’s also tied to significant academic, social and emotional challenges. Vision impairment can lead to poor grades and a lack of engagement and is strongly associated with higher rates of anxiety and depression among children.
That’s why Learn4Life is on a three-year mission to provide all local kids who are in need with a free pair of glasses by 2028 through The Atlanta Vision Project. On Wednesday’s edition of “Closer Look,” host Rose Scott spoke with Dr. Parshall along with Learn4Life Executive Director Kenneth Zeff. They shared that in the coming year, more than 10,000 students will receive needed glasses.
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