University of Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy conducted a high-tech vision screening for the 100,000th child screened by Impact Alabama’a FocusFirst Initiative on Wednesday, September 15, 2010.
“I’m excited to be a part of this nationally unique initiative,” Greg McElroy said of the upcoming screening. “FocusFirst has improved the sight of thousands of children in Alabama, and literally has saved the sight of dozens of kids who were on a path toward blindness before being reached by this effort. Alabama should be very proud of this home grown success story.”
Stephen Black, the founder and president of Impact Alabama and the Director of the UA Center for Ethics & Social Responsibility, noted the importance of detecting children’s vision problems as early as possible, before they cause irreversible damage. “All children deserve to start school with the best vision medically possible,” Black said. “We are proud to have Greg and the Alabama Crimson Tide as a partner on this important day.”
FocusFirst provides a cost-effective direct response to the vision problems of children who live in urban and rural areas throughout the state. Under the supervision of Impact Alabama staff, undergraduate and graduate students ensure that children, ages six months to five years, in Head Starts and lower-income daycares are screened for vision problems, using high-tech photo optic scan cameras, and receive subsidized follow-up care.
Since beginning service in 2004, over 2,000 college students at more than twenty colleges and universities throughout Alabama have participated with FocusFirst. These students have screened more than 100,000 children in all 67 counties across the state, with approximately 11% of the children failing the screenings and receiving subsidized follow-up care as necessary through Sight Savers America.
