Outstanding Volunteer

Five years ago, the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Optometry began volunteer efforts at UCP of Greater Birmingham to provide services to our program participants as well as to adults and children with disabilities from the community.   

Under the leadership of Dr. John Amos, Dean, and faculty Dr. Felton Perry, Dr. Jessica Walk and Dr. Nathan Steinhafel, the School of Optometry provides comprehensive eye exams, eyeglass prescriptions and fittings, eyeglass repair, and specialized equipment for individuals who use assistive communication devices.  Services are provided in a fully-equipped optometry suite at UCP’s LINCPoint facility at no charge to individuals and are provided under the supervision of School of Optometry faculty. In addition, the school conducts pre-kindergarten vision screenings for approximately 15 four-year-old children from our Hand in Hand facility each fall.  Taking great care and compassion in the services they provide, faculty and students from the UAB School of Optometry volunteer over 200 hours of their time at UCP each year.  

Through their efforts, adults and children with disabilities in the greater Birmingham area receive much-needed optometry services.  These services certainly provide immediate impact and help better the quality of life for each individual served.  However, these volunteer services are also doing something much greater.  Students become comfortable treating individuals with disabilities, skills that they can then bring to their own practices in the future, changing the future of care for people with disabilities in our community.  

For taking the lead in this effort in our community and for helping people with disabilities live life without limits by meeting their health and wellness needs, we honor the UAB School of Optometry with our Outstanding Volunteer Award.