Watch

Half Helen Helps People See with Her Mobile Eye Clinic

Creator:
Published:
December 12, 2023
June 14, 2021
Watch how the Half Helen Foundation help children see with their mobile eye clinic.

When Chelsea Elliott was young she nicknamed herself ‘Half Helen’ after she found out that she was blind in one eye and deaf in one ear. Today ‘half Helen’ is the name of her foundation she started to help children and adults identify and aid their vision. Part of their efforts involve their very own mobile eye clinic called Optical Prime.

“Every time that I help a child see clearly, it helps me heal," Chelsea shares. "We're here to help the world see clearly."

Video Transcript

Meet Chelsea Elliott
Austin, Texas

Chelsea Elliott: Half Helen is a childhood nickname. I was four years old when I failed a vision test and learned that I was blind in one eye. And a year later in kindergarten, a failed hearing test revealed that I was deaf in one ear. So in fourth grade, when I learned of Helen Keller's life, I very boldly declared, "I am half blind and half deaf; I'm basically half Helen." And I had no idea that my childhood nickname would come to characterize my life's work.

Camera pans across Chelsea’s office showing packages of glasses and a CNN Heroes award in recognition of her remarkable efforts and selflessness to change the lives of others.

22-year old Chelsea wanted to ensure that all children received a vision and hearing screening. And I had done some research and discovered that 42 of the states in the U.S. provide vision and hearing screenings, and that there were eight that did not at the time.

And so I had just discovered this very cool piece of equipment called the spot vision screener. And I actually have one here. 

Chelsea holds up the device.

It uses multicolored infrared light to scan the surface of the eye, and capture 29 measurements to actually assess whether or not a vision issue is present.

My purpose is to help children and adults see clearly, and this is the instrument in which I could make that happen. Or the starting point, how to make that happen, I should say.

Chelsea pushes buttons on a machine that adds lenses to glasses frames.

I have an older brother who is an epidemiologist. My brother, being the epidemiologist, said “Helping identify a vision problem is great, but if there isn't an access for that family to receive follow-up care, so what? What's the big moment, or what's the point?” And that got me thinking about, he's right. I couldn't tell him that at the time, (laughs) but it started me on the path, the journey to discovering what it takes to launch a mobile eye clinic.

Optical Prime By half Helen is a 32-foot tiny house on wheels, mobile eye clinic. 

Chelsea opens the door to the cheerful mobile eye clinic decorated with drawings of people in colorful glasses.

It's honestly going to be one of our biggest pride and joys, because one of our values here at half Helen is ingenuity. We believe that everyone, regardless of background or circumstance, has inherent value, and deserves to be treated with dignity and significance and respect.

Every time that I help a child see clearly, it helps me heal. I'm like one step closer to healing. Keep an eye out on us. We're going to help. That's what I want to say. We're going to help the world see clearly, but that's exactly what we're going to do.

We're here to help the world see clearly. And if you need help, contact us.

Creators:
Grotto
Published:
December 12, 2023
June 14, 2021
On a related note...
Hate Your Job? These 4 Questions Will Help You Move Forward

Hate Your Job? These 4 Questions Will Help You Move Forward

Marye Colleen Larme

Caught in the Middle: The Ambivert Struggle

Caught in the Middle: The Ambivert Struggle

Josh Flynt

What Does Success (Really) Mean to You?

What Does Success (Really) Mean to You?

Sophie Caldecott

What You Can Do as a Bystander to Harassment

What You Can Do as a Bystander to Harassment

Grotto

Backyard Fundraiser Grows to Raise $3 Million | Little Ways: Fundraise

Backyard Fundraiser Grows to Raise $3 Million | Little Ways: Fundraise

Grotto

St. Thérèse of Lisieux Spotify Playlist | #GrottoMusic

St. Thérèse of Lisieux Spotify Playlist | #GrottoMusic

Grotto

4 Ways to Help Aging Loved Ones Grow Old at Home

4 Ways to Help Aging Loved Ones Grow Old at Home

Christine Chu

How I Reverse Burnout in 10 Minutes a Day

How I Reverse Burnout in 10 Minutes a Day

Sage Webb

6 Hacks for Staying Motivated to Work Out

6 Hacks for Staying Motivated to Work Out

Javi Zubizarreta

4 Resources to Turn to After a Divorce

4 Resources to Turn to After a Divorce

Patty Breen

Questions are Keys that Unlock Doors to Other People

Questions are Keys that Unlock Doors to Other People

Renée Roden

Meet the Woman Who Holds Opioid-Addicted Babies

Meet the Woman Who Holds Opioid-Addicted Babies

Maria Walley

What You Need to Know About ‘Wishful Recycling’

What You Need to Know About ‘Wishful Recycling’

Emily Mae Mentock

How Do You Keep a Plant Alive?

How Do You Keep a Plant Alive?

Grotto

"Father of Three Daughters"

"Father of Three Daughters"

Judith Sornberger

"You Deserve"

"You Deserve"

Makaela Douglas

What Gratitude Journaling Taught Me About Happiness

What Gratitude Journaling Taught Me About Happiness

Lillian Fallon

Chasing New Fitness Goals? Unlock the Power of Accountability

Chasing New Fitness Goals? Unlock the Power of Accountability

Claire Krakowiak

This Coach Uses Ultimate Frisbee to Teach Life Lessons

This Coach Uses Ultimate Frisbee to Teach Life Lessons

Grotto

10 Books That Will Make You Rethink Your Life

10 Books That Will Make You Rethink Your Life

Maria Walley

newsletter

We’d love to be pals.

Sign up for our newsletter, and we’ll meet you in your inbox each week.