Drive For Sight Program
Program Overview
Funded by the Georgia Legislature in 2000. House Bill 812 ( O.C.G.A. § 31-1-23;
http://law.onecle.com/georgia/31/31-1-23.html) created the Georgia Drive for Sight Program that provides support for vision services in Georgia based on the availability of funds generated from voluntary contributions. Georgia drivers are able to donate one dollar at the time of their initial or renewal application for motor vehicle drivers’ licenses at any Georgia Department of Drivers Services (DDS), Customer Service Center location. Program Objectives
Vision
To be the preferred source for preventive vision (eye) health for all citizens in Georgia.
- By providing information regarding vision (eye) health, controlling vision loss and the prevention of eye diseases.
- By improving access to vision care services.
- By providing services to low-income, un-insured and the under-insured Georgians.
- By promoting quality, availability, accessibility to vision services and related health conditions.
The Department of Public Health has partnered with leading vision non-profit organizations offering regional and community based blindness education, vision screening and examinations, rehabilitation and treatment services, and the gift of sight through eye donations.
Program Highlights
Through the Drive for Sight Program, approximately 60,000 homeless or working poor Georgians have been provided vision screenings and follow-up eye examinations; and approximately 50,000 pre-kindergarten children in Georgia have received vision screening using the Random Dot E and Lea Symbols Chart.
Community Partners
Center for the Visually Impaired, Inc. - Provides low vision education, rehabilitation and treatment services for individuals who have severe low vision or progressive eye conditions that will lead to vision loss in the future. Clients learn how to adapt to their living conditions - continuing to live independently, avoid injuries from falls, gaining skills to travel independently, and avoiding isolation and depression.
http://www.cviga.org/
Georgia Eye Bank, Inc. - Goal is to increase the number of eye donations through education; meeting the need of Georgians requiring corneal transplant surgery. Georgia Eye Bank provides corneas for transplant surgeries, and human eye tissue for sight saving research and training.
http://www.georgiaeyebank.org/
Georgia Society to Prevent Blindness, Inc. - Provides vision screenings for pre-kindergarten children and eye examinations for adults who meet the eligibility requirements. Providing referral services and vision education for every individual screened in the Outreach Clinics. Provide vision education, vision screening and examinations, vision referral services and collaborative efforts for individuals with diabetes.
http://georgia.preventblindness.org/
Vision Rehabilitation Services of Georgia, Inc. - Certified instructors provides a custom plan of service based on the needs of each individual client. Provides comprehensive low-vision evaluations, instruction in a variety of daily living skills, Safe travel (orientation and mobility), Access Technology Training in magnification
and speech software program and transition to vision loss counseling.
http://www.blvsgeorgia.org/
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