North Texas visually impaired kids get gift of sight

Sight Savers America is providing life-changing technology to dozens of North Texas visually impaired children.

Jeff Haddox of Sight Savers is overseeing the donation of 37 ONYX electronic visual magnifiers called EVMs.

The $2,500 device enables children with severe visual impairments to see clear enough to read, write, play video games or even watch TV.

"It's something that is just, if you forgive me but, eye-opening because they know they are just like everyone else,” said Dr. Stephanie Fleming with Dallas Services Low Vision. “This problem that they had is minimized greatly by the equipment that they use."

9-year-old Piper Dahl and her two brothers have the same visual impairment that leaves them essentially legally blind. But after a few minutes of instruction, she is able to see clearer.

"A big difference. Knowing that I can see real better, it changed my life,” she said.

Piper is thankful she has an EVM of her very own to take home. Her brothers will share another one.    

"I can finally actually feel like other people feel, knowing I can read better,” she said. “Except, I'm just a little different."

Bryce Brown also received one that enables him to clearly see things around the room, even faces.

"Instead of like really having to struggle to read a book or read a paper, I could like use it and like be fine,” Bryce said.

"When he said that, it kind of made me a little teary because he isn't ‘normal,’” said Shawane Simpson, Bryce’s mother.

Doctors and parents believe the EVMs will help the students improve their grades as well as their confidence.