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Tri-County Association for the Blind
1800 North Second Street, Harrisburg, PA 17102-2200
(717) 238-2531 Fax:(717) 238-0710
info@tricountyblind.org


Contact: Laurie Thompson. Public Relations Director
Phone: 717-238-2531
Date: May 16, 2006

For Immediate Release


Perry County Community Foundation Awards Grant to Educate Students about Eye Safety

Harrisburg, PA -- Tri-County Association for the Blind (TCAB) was awarded a $750 grant from the Perry County Community Foundation in conjunction with the Foundation for Enhancing Communities, to educate elementary students about eye safety as well as screen pre-school children for identification and correction of eye diseases and other vision problems.

The mission at TCAB is to support and promote the interests of people who are blind, visually impaired or otherwise disabled and to prevent blindness throughout Cumberland, Dauphin and Perry Counties. The goal of the Prevention department at TCAB is to promote eye health and safety and reduce the incidence of blindness. This is accomplished with three distinct services:

  • A Vision Screening Program that identifies preschool children with vision deficits.
  • Referral to eye care professionals, once a problem has been detected.
  • An Eye Health and Safety Education program for children and adults that promotes proper eye care.
The Vision Screening program targets pre-school children, as early intervention with many eye problems in small children can be easily detected and then corrected. Small children do not know how well they should be able to see and usually don't tell adults when they need eye care. The vision screenings offer a simple pain free test to the children that can identify potential eye problems.

In 2005, TCAB visited day care centers, preschools and home school organizations and screened 342 children at 5 different locations in Perry County. The Prevention department referred 16 children for further professional care thus accomplishing their second goal.

The third service educates children and adults about eye health and safety. The programs were offered to first graders at 6 different schools in Perry County and 28 programs were conducted for 579 children. The eye health and safety programs are designed to build good habits that are carried into adulthood.

The generosity of the Perry County Foundation will ensure that TCAB will continue to offer these integral services that can; detect vision problems, refer children to eye care professionals and educate about eye health and safety.

The Tri-County Association for the Blind is a private non-profit organization that works to provide opportunities to help blind and visually impaired individuals flourish within and enrich our communities. TCAB, which services Dauphin, Cumberland and Perry counties provides the following services: Access Technology, Prevention of Blindness, Social Services, Harrisburg Area Radio Reading Service, Low Vision Services, Carpeting & Janitorial Department, and a Production Facility.

For more information on the Tri-County Association for the Blind, call (717) 238-2531; visit our web site at www.tricountyblind.org, or e-mail info@tricountyblind.org.



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