Abyann Hashi had initially been hesitant about seeing an optometrist. Her aunt, Deka Gabriel-Abdilleh, who is her guardian, had to cancel an appointment she’d previously made because Hashi, who has autism, hadn’t wanted to leave the house on a cold day.Ìý
Now, however, Hashi is sitting in the optometrist’s chair at the Etobicoke location ofÌý, a not-for-profit organization that helps people of all ages with autism-, developmental-, and sensory-related concerns. She’s smiling, high fiving the optometrist, Dr. Jonathan Niavis (OD ’19), and Sunpreet Pabla, the fourth-year University of À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ optometry student who’s assisting.Ìý
The comprehensive eye exam was organized byÌýWEI @ Surrey Place, a collaborative project of the À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Eye Institute (WEI) and Surrey Place, funded by an anonymous foundation. The project aims to increase access to eye and vision care for people with special needs, research the prevalence of eye conditions and best care practices for this population, and provide advanced training for student optometrists.Ìý
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