Sprott Asset Managment: Gift of Sight and Sound program

Imagine that you arrive at school each day:

• unable to read what’s on the blackboard;
• unable to understand the words in your book because some of the letters look the same;
• unsure of what your teacher is saying, or;
• unable to hear classmates discuss a group project or plans for an after school play.
  

Would you withdraw, act out, or perhaps try to find self esteem somewhere else? Studies indicate that children with these problems are more likely to drop out of school, be involved in criminal activities or be under-employed or unemployed.

The Gift of Sight and Sound program is designed to bring essential services right into schools to help thousands of children living in Toronto's highest needs communities.  Through this program children are screened for vision and hearing problems in the one place outside their homes that they trust the most. Those who need glasses and hearing assistance devices receive them free of charge and often problems are detected early enough to prevent significant future problems.  

In 2007/2008 alone, 36% of the children screened by the health care professionals in the Gift of Sight and Sound program were referred for medical follow up. This is almost double the percentage found in middle class populations. One reason may well be that the programs are run in high needs schools with high levels of recent immigrants to Canada.  

The Gift of Sight and Sound program:

• brings health care professionals from the Canadian Hearing Society as well as doctors from other countries who are seeking accreditation here in Canada into schools to assess the hearing and vision needs of children;
• provides free hearing assistance devices;
• provides Wal-Mart Canada optometrist services and glasses free of charge, and;
• provides additional referrals when necessary.

For a donation of only $15.00 you can give the Gift of Sight and Sound to a child.

Download the Gift of Sight & Sound Fact Sheet