Helping Special Olympics Athletes See Clearly

Dr. Paul Berman is being honored as a Champion of Change for founding the Special Olympics Lions Clubs International Opening Eyes, an initiative providing vision care for challenged individuals.

As an optometrist, I always want to help people see. I wanted to do something that I could feel good about. Little did I know my efforts would grow into a global health program. Through Special Olympics Lions Clubs International Opening Eyes, providing eye screenings to Special Olympics athletes, and the Lions Lens, a low-cost solution to the need for prescription eyeglasses, Lions are improving the quality of life for people around the world. The Lions support for the program I founded, answering the call of Helen Keller to be the knights of the blind has enabled this progress. Lions have taken a leadership role in eliminating visual impairments for all people, including Special Olympic athletes globally. Helping low-income individuals and people with intellectual disabilities see enables them to contribute more to society and lead happier, more productive lives.

Dr. Paul Berman of Hillsdale, N.J., is a member of the Hackensack Lions Club and has been a Lion for 20 years.