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Mississippi children receive life-changing vision aids

By Jaylon Anderson Feb 19, 2025 | 5:15 PM

JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – Six Mississippi children with severe visual impairments received life-changing vision aids on Wednesday, February 19.

The children received high tech video magnifiers worth $3,000 for free. The magnifiers will help enhance and clarify objects, allowing each child to easily read books, view pictures and complete their homework with no extra help needed.

Dr. Dawn Decarlo, CEO of Sight Savers America, said the benefits each child receives makes it more special.

“It’s really special to be able to give these devices to children who have permanent vision impairment. So, these are kids that can’t be fixed with glasses, medication or surgery. This equipment is entirely designed to promote independence. It’s exciting to see how excited the child is about the equipment that they’re receiving,” said Decarlo.

Kwame Addae is one of the children who received the new technology.

“I think it’s going to be like an experience, but a good experience. It’s going to help me. Like if so, the devices I’ve been using, they only have one magnification. But if like the words get like extra, extra, extra small, and then that one magnification might not help with it, and then I could change it to different magnifications,” said Addae.

The devices will allow the visual impaired to see materials on the same level as their peers.

Sight Savers America will follow each child until their 19th birthday, providing follow-ups and repairs. They will collect data on each engagement.