SCHS EARLY INTERVENTION CENTER PREFORMS A FREE SCREENING FOR VISION ISSUES FOR THE CHILDREN VISITING AL QASBA CANAL
On Monday, October 15, 2018, Early Intervention Center, which is an affiliate of Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services (SCHS), celebrated White Cane Safety Day, which the world marks in the same date every year.
Consequently, the center organized a free screening for 50 children enrolled in the center in collaboration with Dar Al Oyoun Hospital.
In collaboration with Al Qasba Canal, which is the best tourist destination for families in Sharjah, the center organized a special program to perform early screening for vision issues using the Spot Vision Screener, which has special advanced features and specifications. The screening included children visiting Al Qasba Canal. Children interaction with the screening was remarkable. Center’s specialists presented direct diagnoses for each screening. They directed those who had vision issues to see an optician a soon as possible.
Mr. Mohamed Fawzi, Director of SCHS Early Intervention Center, has confirmed that SCHS Visual Impairment Program offers services to 14 children, boys and girls each year. Since its inception in 1992, the program offered services to more than 89 children. These services included training sessions using special techniques and programs for early intervention in order to handle children with visual impairment.
He said, “The center offers individual training sessions on Braille, Pre-Braille, directions, and maneuvering skills. In addition, the center offers special services for children with multiple disabilities in addition to visual impairment by using measuring, evaluation, and programming systems”.
The Director of SCHS Early Intervention Center has pointed out center’s constant follow-up of students integrated into public schools. The center also organizes screening to detect vision issues in early stages for children in a variety of public and private schools and bodies.
For her part, the director of Al Qasba Canal Kholoud Salem Al-Junibi said, “We are hosting this event, which coincides with White Cane Safety Day because we care about interacting with social issues and constructive initiatives that aims at reaching noble goals. We are working hard to raise people’s awareness of the issues of visually impaired persons, their rights, and needs. We also would like to encourage all members of society to support those persons in order to become independent human beings”.
For her part, Family Consultation Teacher in SCHS Visual Impairment Program Ms. Dalia Abdel Moneim Al Mansouri has confirmed that Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services has been using Spots Vision Screener to detect vision issues for years. SCHS is a leading institution in local, regional, and international levels. SCHS is making continued efforts to advance the programs and services offered to persons with disabilities and the entire community.
She said, “The Spot Vision Screener is a handheld, portable device designed to help quickly and easily detect vision issues on patients from 6 months of age through adult with 97% of accuracy. It does not need any kind of accessories”.
For their part, the visitors of Al Qasba Canal praised the activity, which the center organized in order to mark White Cane Safety Day. They believe it contributes to raising people’s awareness on the proper way to deal with persons with visual impairment and the importance of integration.