Enable America Chairman Richard Salem Calls for Increased Vision Screening

Tampa, FL, January 10, 2015 --(PR.com)-- Enable America founder and chairman Richard Salem called for increased efforts to detect vision loss at the 2015 Person of Vision Dinner to honor Jeff and Penny Vinik. Sponsored by Prevent Blindness Florida, the award was presented to the Viniks January 8 at Tampa’s Waterside Marriott Hotel.

“Building coalitions is the only way to effect change, as Prevent Blindness Florida does working with the Congressional Vision Caucus and with our state legislature,” Salem said in encouraging support of the nonprofit organization. “Thank you Mr. and Mrs. Vinik for your generous community support that has touched and saved the lives of so many.”

Jeff Vinik is best known locally as the owner of the Tampa Bay Lightning, and for his recent plans to develop Tampa’s Channelside district. The Viniks were honored with the Person of Vision award for the profound impact they have had on the region through their community involvement and leadership.

Prevent Blindness Florida is a non-profit agency offering vision education and services. The organization’s focus is to promote a lifetime of health vision care through advocacy, education, screening and research.

Mr. Salem is a Tampa attorney and business leader who founded the nonprofit Enable America to improve employment opportunities for all people with disabilities, including those who are visually impaired. In joining local dignitaries including Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn, USF President Judy Genshaft, and restaurateur Richard Gonzmart, he used the occasion to highlight the ongoing need for vision screening, especially among children.

“Children either don’t know or don’t tell, but one out of four enters school with some vision loss, and 80% of children diagnosed with a learning disability have some sort of vision impairment,” Salem said. “That’s why screening is so important, if vision impairments are caught early and we can intervene before the age of nine, when vision systems mature. Through early intervention and detection 50% of all blindness can be prevented.”

More information about Prevent Blindness Florida can be found at the organization’s website: Florida.PreventBlindness.org.

About Enable America: Established in 2002 by attorney Richard Salem, Enable America builds bridges among employers, social service agencies, and veterans and individuals with disabilities, through programs that improve employment opportunities. The organization’s Community Connections, Business Connections, Career Mentoring Days, Job Seekers Workshops, and VetConnect programs unite members of the job seeker community and employers to raise awareness and increase employment opportunities for the more than 56 million Americans with disabilities.