As reported in Globe News Wire, amidst a difficult time for rare disease patients as the medical world’s refocuses on the coronavirus, a new scholarship has been announced that could help five young people who have experienced sight loss. The scholarship has been created in a union between eSight, the top vision enhancement platform and the non-profit CNIB Foundation which aims to enhance the life of blind people today. The scholarship will provide the students with high-tech eyewear that causes significant improvement in an effort to enable patients to achieve academic success.
The New Scholarship for the Visually Impaired
The new scholarship is aimed at high achieving visually impaired students, emphasizing applicants who have demonstrated academic success and high aspirations. Requirements for the scholarship must:
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Pursuing a post-secondary diploma, degree, skilled trades certificate or apprenticeship program in the fall of 2020.
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Be Canadian citizens or have held landed immigrant status for one year prior to the date of application.
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The scholarship recipients will be chosen based on an essay, two reference letters from a teacher or school volunteer and/or supervisor, and interim transcript.
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Complete an eSight evaluation to ensure the device could be a fit.
eSight Eyewear
eSight eyewear is technology for more advanced visual needs, often used to treat serious eye disorders including Stargardt’s disease, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and optic nerve hypoplasia. The makers specifically designed it with students and classroom needs in mind, enabling wearers to more easily follow textbooks and course readings, read chalkboards and powerpoints used by professors in classrooms, and to see finer details in order to participate in activities with fine motor skills.
The CEO and president of eSight, Robert Vaters, said,
“With our advanced vision-enhancing technology, students can now take more control of their academic and professional lives. CNIB’s scholarship program has always been a valuable resource in helping bridge the disability gap for Canadian students living with low vision. We’re proud to be a part of something so special and help more students with their education and following employment.”
For more information on the CNIB’s scholarship program, click here.
To find the application, visit click here.
Applications close July 5th, 2020.
