International Community Health Services (ICHS), First Hill Lions Club and Warby Parker have teamed up on the Gift of Sight program to provide free eye exams and glasses to 20 low-income immigrant and refugee students at Seattle World School.
“Being able to see the blackboard at the front of the classroom is something many of us take for granted, but for some of our students, lack of access to affordable eye care can be very detrimental to their studies,” said Janni Sun, ICHS School Services administrator. “Eye care is prohibitively expensive, despite its importance for young learners. Being able to provide students with solutions to this long-standing problem, even if they may not have insurance or access to affordable glasses, is a great A step toward more equitable service to historically and continuing underserved students.”
ICHS Adolescent Health at Seattle World Schools has been serving immigrant and refugee students of middle and high school age for over a decade.
Students have access to high-quality healthcare services thanks to the Adolescent Health Center. The Wellness Center also helps connect student families to school and community resources that help improve overall student and family outcomes.
But for some immigrant and refugee students at Seattle World School, access to vision care is considered a barrier for their families due to factors such as immigration status, family income and dependent status. In particular, students who no longer receive government assistance at age 19 do not have access to proper vision care.
This unique collaboration of the Vision Gift Program helps alleviate the financial burden associated with vision care needs and enables these students to focus on their academic and professional pursuits.
Overseen by ICHS Community Health Services Director Sherryl Grey, the ICHS Vision Clinic will work with Seattle World School nurses to identify students who need this additional vision service.
“Vision service has always been a gap in our service,” Gray said. “We can close that gap and ensure these young people have access to the services and resources they need.”
Funding from the Seattle First Mountain Lions and the Northwest Lions Foundation is helping pay for eye exams and prescriptions for students.
“Since 1954, the First Mountain Lions of Seattle have been quietly serving the community, doing what we can,” said Seattle First Mountain Lions President Karen Ko. “Vision is at the heart of our mission to be a partner with ICHS and Warby Parker to help young refugee and immigrant students fully align with the values of the First Mountain Lions in Seattle.”
Finally, Warby Parker will provide students with glasses that fit their individual vision care needs.
“We are excited to be involved in providing Seattle World School students with this essential need to continue on their path to success,” said Lisa Harris of Warby Parker, an online retailer of prescription glasses and sunglasses. A world of vision, purpose and style. This community partnership is Warby Parker’s first of its kind in the region.
“Without vision, student learning suffers,” said Heidi Wong, executive director of the ICHS Foundation. “If we could give them a little help to help them learn and give them the confidence to excel in school, imagine what they can do to break down barriers that are beyond their control.”
