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Rebecca Zeiner ‘27AUD has worked with children who have disabilities, so when she first signed up to be a volunteer at the Special Olympics Pennsylvania in 2023, it brought her love for the work she did together with her pursuit of a career in audiology.
When she decided to volunteer again this year as part of a contingent of Audiology and Optometry students from Salus at Drexel University, the added experience reaffirmed she’s on the right career path.
“My experience was an absolute blast! I love working with this population because it takes patience and understanding,” said Zeiner. “They are bright humans just like the rest of us but might need some extra time and visualization cues. I loved how so many people get together to make a difference for others they have never met.”
Zeiner said she gained so much from working with the Special Olympics athletes, including how to stay calm in a chaotic environment as well as learning how to work with those in other professions.
“You grow so much from this experience and it gives you life perspectives in the audiology world,” she said. "Screenings are a big aspect of audiology, and this was a great way to dip your toes in and understand what a screening event may look like.”
She also mentioned networking opportunities are endless due to the fact that the other professions are down the hallway. “You meet so many new people and honestly have a great time,” she said.
For third-year Doctor of Optometry student, Josh Ligus ‘26OD, volunteering for the event provided an opportunity to practice skills he’s been learning for the past few years.
“I have had the chance to do other volunteer clinics and I’ve always enjoyed them,” said Ligus. “I know it can be a long and challenging day, but a day well worth it.”
One of his favorite experiences of the event was when a Special Olympics athlete approached him and during the conversation, the two discovered they lived in neighboring towns in Pennsylvania.
“We chatted about his upcoming soccer games and then proceeded to the exam,” said Ligus. “He needed some new sports vision goggles and knowing that I was going to be a part of helping him compete in those games made my day.”
According to Ligus, making a difference in someone else’s life was his biggest takeaway from the event.
“I think sometimes we get so bogged down with the endless hours of studying and the long sleepless nights that we forget why we chose this profession,” he said. “It’s days like this one that remind me why I chose optometry as my future so I can be the best version of myself and the best doctor I can be.”
According to Erin Sherman, OD ‘16, FAAO, assistant professor at the Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO), Salus at Drexel University, 15 students and five faculty members from PCO volunteered for the event, which was held Nov. 2, 2024, at Villanova University. The group screened 170 special athletes.
In addition, there were 19 students and two faculty members from Osborne Audiology, Salus at Drexel University, that participated in the event, according to Lindsay Bondurant, PhD, CCC-A, director of the Pennsylvania Ear Institute (PEI) and associate professor.
The PCO group worked closely with the Lions Club of Bensalem during the screenings. This year, students from the pre-optometry club at Villanova University also joined the group.
Dr. Sherman added that about 140 pairs of glasses were ordered and about 30 pairs of sunglasses were distributed. All of the patients’ information was collected and put into the medical records Special Olympics keeps every year, with the hope of decreasing the disparity in access for people with intellectual disabilities.
This year’s event also celebrated 15,000 screenings completed collectively since 2007 over a variety of disciplines, including audiology, optometry, podiatry, dentistry, fitness and mental health. Also present at the celebration were representatives from the Pennsylvania Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), along with other organizations that support the Special Olympics.
“With each event, my spirits are lifted by the enthusiasm of our students, the kindness of our clinical volunteers, and the gratitude of the athletes and their families,” said Dr. Bondurant, who was volunteering at her 23rd Special Olympics event. “All of the Healthy Athletes programs have grown with the support of Special Olympics Pennsylvania and I'm already looking forward to seeing the athletes again next year.”
