Former House Democratic Leader and Gubernatorial Candidate Greets 44 Students Provided Glasses at Barack and Michelle Obama Academy
Students at Barack and Michelle Obama Academy got some help trying on their new glasses for the first time from a special guest –Stacey Abrams. 44 students were provided new glasses as part of an Atlanta Public Schools-wide effort by nonprofit provider Vision To Learn. The program provides free vision screenings, eye exams and glasses to elementary school students in need throughout the district.
Ms. Abrams visited with students and complimented them on their stylish frames.
“More than 2 million kids across our country go to school each day without the glasses they need. But when students cannot see the board or their textbooks, their academic performance can suffer in spite of their hard work. Vision Works provides students with the opportunity to thrive in school, working to meet a critical need in Georgia and across the country.” said Ms. Abrams.
An estimated 60,000 kids in the Atlanta Metro Area go to school every day without the glasses they need to see the board, read a book or participate in the classroom. The primary hurdle is a lack of access to vision services for students in low-income communities. To solve this problem, Vision To Learn brings vision services to students at school using mobile clinic vans.
“Vision to Learn is providing kids with the glasses they need to succeed in school and in life. I appreciate Stacey adding her powerful voice to this work and her relentless efforts to help kids in need,” said Vision To Learn Founder Austin Beutner.
In 2017, Vision To Learn began a district-wide project in Atlanta Public Schools (APS) helping every elementary school student in need over a 2-year period. Vision To Learn also helps students in Clayton County Schools, DeKalb County Schools, and Atlanta Boys & Girls Clubs. To date, Vision To Learn has provided over 6,000 students in the Atlanta area with eye exams, and 5,000 with glasses.
“Atlanta Public Schools (APS) could not be more pleased with the tremendous impact our Vision to Learn partnership is having on our students,” said APS Superintendent Dr. Meria Carstarphen. “Through this effort, we are providing vital eye care services to our students with poor vision, opening their eyes to see the world in a whole new way. This partnership is more than a game changer for us; it’s a life changer for our students.”
To accomplish the project, Vision To Learn’s mobile vision clinic visits schools 5 days a week. On board, trained eye doctors provide eye exams to students. If the student needs glasses, they can choose their own frame from a wide selection on the clinic.
About Stacey Abrams
Former Georgia House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams was Georgia’s 2018 Democratic gubernatorial nominee. The first Black woman to be the gubernatorial nominee for a major party in any state, she won more votes than any other Democrat in state history. After witnessing the election’s mismanagement by the Secretary of State’s office, Abrams launched Fair Fight to ensure free and fair elections. She is the author of Minority Leader: How to Lead From the Outside and Make Real Change.
About Atlanta Public Schools
Atlanta Public Schools is one of the largest school districts in the state of Georgia, serving approximately 52,000 students. The district is organized into nine K-12 clusters with 89 schools and programs. For more information, visit www.atlantapublicschools.us, follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/AtlantaPublicSchools/ and on Twitter @apsupdate.
