Vision and Hearing Help in Olympia

Each school year, the Olympia Lions Club tests the sight and hearing of students in local elementary and middle schools.  Using state of the art vision cameras and audiology machines, Lions screen hundreds of students.   Test results are given to school nurses who work with parents to get the children retested by professional health care providers.  

The payoff for this testing can be great.  Each year the sight and hearing screening identifies children with vision and hearing difficulties that might otherwise have gone undetected had not Lion volunteers been there to catch it.  Thanks to the screening and follow up care by medical professionals,  many children get the help they need to succeed in school. 

Imagine what your world would be like if you couldn't see well enough to read.

People with low vision may find themselves with limited access to equipment to assist them to function in a world built for sighted people. Students using school owned equipment during the school year may not have access to that equipment during summer vacation months.

The Lions Low Vision Resource Center, managed by the Olympia Host Lions Club, carries CCTV type reading machines and an array of adaptive devices that are freely given to people coming to the center for assistance.  Newer state of the art devices are available in house to allow clients to try  a variety of devices before making a purchase and also allow Lions volunteers to provide both one on one and group training on key devices.

Learn more about the Lions Low Vision Resource Center here.

Lions clubs collect used eye glasses placed in collection boxes throughout the community. Lions gather the glasses and take them to the Lions Eye Glass Recycling Center (LERC) in Lacey, Washington.

At the LERC, clubs set up work parties at the center to wash and grade the glasses for vision missions to third world countries all over the world. People barely able to see are given the gift of sight through this well coordinated program. 

Want to donate used glasses?  Call our Lions EyeLine at 360 790-8667 to find an eyeglass donation site near you.

Lions clubs from all over Thurston County partner with the Union Gospel Mission Vision Program to provide glasses for low income people. 

The program provides a free eye exam and new prescription glasses to individuals who qualify. Lions clubs donate money to the Vision Program to make this possible.

If you are trying to find a way to get low cost vision exam and glasses, please contact the Union Gospel Mission directly.

Working with the Hearing Aid program of the NW Lions Foundation, Olympia Host Lions provides hearing aids for very low income people. 

Upon approval of an application, individuals can receive a free exam and hearing aids through a local audiology office.

Two criteria typically govern the decision to fund hearing aids:

  a) Does the applicant live in our service area?

 b) Does the applicant meet the criteria of income at, or below, 133% of the Federal Poverty Level (published and adjusted annually)?   The income level is based on submitted copy of applicant's most-recent federal tax return.  

If approved, applicant can expect to pay a $50 copay for fitting.

Imagine trying to communicate with someone who doesn't realize you are blind or deaf. It can be difficult and frustrating for both you and the person you are trying to reach.  So we have a suggestion that may be useful.

Olympia Host Lions have developed a good looking lapel pin depicting an eye or an ear.  By wearing the  pin, you can subtly call attention to your special need and improve the personal interaction. Pins are available for a $5 donation at the Lions Low Vision Resource Center.

Along with the pin, Olympia Host Lions also have created large buttons and business cards that can be used to alert those you deal with that you have hearing or vision loss.  Buttons and cards are available free of charge at the LVRC or contact the Lions through the link below.

If your group would like to learn more about any Lions activity, our speakers are happy to help.

Lions are ready to speak to your service club, support group or neighborhood association about our projects in vision, hearing and more.

 Want to learn how to walk comfortably with a blind person or the most polite way to approach someone who can't tell who you are?  Interested in learning how to interact more productively with someone with limited hearing?  Just let us know.