Nonprofit Brings Vision Services to East Hartford Children
Posted on 11/09/2021
Vision To Learn




Nonprofit Brings Vision Services to East Hartford Children

 

More than 3,000 East Hartford children are accessing free vision services at school this fall through a nonprofit called Vision To Learn.

Since its founding in 2012, Vision To Learn has helped provide more than 1.2 million children with vision screenings, over 300,000 with eye exams and almost 250,000 with glasses – all free of charge to children and their families.

East Hartford’s partnership marks Vision To Learn’s launch in Connecticut.

“Our partnership with Vision To Learn will benefit the students and families in East Hartford tremendously. We know many children in our district do not have access to vision services and therefore don’t have the glasses they need to succeed in school and reach their highest potential. We’re proud to be the pilot district bringing this program to Connecticut,” said Nathan Quesnel, East Hartford Public Schools Superintendent.

Vision To Learn

During October and November, Vision To Learn visited all East Hartford elementary schools, screening each child in every classroom.

If a child did not pass the vision screening, they will receive an eye exam from a licensed optometrist in Vision To Learn’s mobile clinic. Finally, the child will be fitted for their own pair of glasses.

There are over 200,000 students enrolled in Connecticut's Alliance Districts and it is estimated that about 40,000 children lack the glasses they need to succeed.

“I’m so honored to be launching this program in Connecticut. I’ve worn glasses since I was a 2nd grader in Windham Public Schools so I’m personally invested in helping every Connecticut student receive the glasses they need to see the world around them. I know we are going to change lives and communities. I feel fortunate to have such great partners and early supporters, such as East Hartford Public Schools, who believe in and support our work and champion our program,” said Sabrina Davis, Connecticut Program Manager at Vision To Learn.