To: Kate Edwards, Executive Director

From: Anuska Shakya, Sarah Patterson, Logan Falslev, Alexis Isbell

Date: September 28, 2016

Subject: Proposal for Friends for Sight

Statement of Mission

We are proposing to you, Friends for Sight, that as a group of undergraduates at the
University of Utah studying to be professional writers that we too are passionate about
your mission and feel we can volunteer our services to aid you in this mission.
Concurrently, we are dedicated to improving and perfecting our professional writing
skills. Because of this combination of attributes, we believe that we are qualified to
conduct a research project for your organization and provide an organized, well-written
portfolio of our findings, all free of charge.

Background

Through extensive communication with a Friends for Sight representative, we

understand there is a need for concrete evidence of effective digital eye screenings
currently available. Within our research on these screenings we will also determine how
effective the screening might be, as well as any trustworthy program approvals the
screenings might have, such as an approval from American Academy of Pediatrics. In
addition to that, we will specifically focus on hand-held devices and any mobile
screening apps currently available.

Accomplishments

The main objective of this project is to identify the effectiveness of various types of eye
screening devices as well as computer screening programs that have been or being
invented to treat patients who suffer from vision complications by conducting an
intensive research. We want to ensure that we provide qualitative findings on this matter
that are going to be applicable in spreading awareness to the children your organization
serves.

Methods

To fulfil our goal, it is important that we find accurate information. We will perform our
research through accredited journals, articles, scientific research, and other medical
resources with proper credentials online as well as from the library. We will contact eye
specialists and appropriate representatives who are familiar with vision screenings to
gain real-time facts about the screening devices. We will also reach out to lab
technicians at the Moran Eye Center who are currently performing a clinical trial on the
new computer screening program innovated to treat an eye disorder called Amblyopia.
This contact will provide us truthful data on the validity of the screening program that is
being used. Both android and ios apps related to vision screenings will be downloaded
and used on our mobile devices to evaluate the effectiveness and reliability of these
apps. In addition, reviews for handheld devices from patients and specialists will also be

gathered from the app itself and online forums. From this extensive knowledge, we will
be able to determine the important details and convert it into a simplified detail-oriented
research paper.


Proposed Schedule
We recognize that, though this project is not necessarily time sensitive, a quick
completion will grant unto you the necessary resources needed to benefit those you
serve as quickly as possible. To this end, we propose the following schedule of events
prerequisite to the polished completion of this research project:

October 14 - Preliminary Research
By this date, we will have compiled a suitable amount of qualitative and
informative research from reputable sources, as outlined under methods,
which will be used in our formal written document. Though further findings
may be discovered and included as the project proceeds, we will at this
time have gained enough information to begin formatting the final research
document.
October 30 - First Draft
By this date, we will have completed a first draft of the research project.
We will have compiled our research into an organized portfolio and will
proceed from this point to refine the project. This will begin with peer
review focused primarily on macro-level problems such as clarity and
organization and secondarily on micro-level problems such as grammar
and punctuation.
December 9 - Final Draft
This date is the absolute latest by which our research project will be
completed, though it may be that it is completed prior to this day. Using
feedback from our peers as well as from members within our group, we
will refine the portfolios content to resolve issues of clarity and
presentation. Most importantly, we will also assure that your needs which
instigated this project have been properly satisfied.


Our Qualifications
Our group is comprised of four students pursuing higher education at the University of
Utah. As a result of our time at university and our prior school work, we have developed
a range of research skills which will prove invaluable to the completion of this project.
Certain majors represented by our group members include Pre-Medicine and Health,
Society and Policy, and computer science. Considering that our research is based in
healthcare software, we will be able to utilize our individual knowledge gained through
our respective studies in the compilation and presentation of our research project.
Furthermore, we propose that as this project is completed in conjunction with a higher
level writing class, our prior knowledge and experience with rhetoric and writing will
likewise be an asset to the completion of this project.

Budget

There are no current funds allocated for this partnership through the University of Utah
but listed below are possible areas of spending that members of this group is willing to
allocate to complete the proposed project:

Gas to drive to and from Friends for Sight
Any research or articles needed to provide analysis and feedback on the various
types of eye screening devices and computer screening programs needed to
assist in the work done for Friends for Sight
Any applications, computer programs and online tools needed to complete
project

If this project is determined to need more funds than the possible ones listed, then an
Undergraduate Research Opportunity Proposal will be submitted to allocated funds from
the University to help finish this project.


Conclusion
Overall, the goal of this partnership is for mutual added value. We as undergraduates at
the University of Utah hope to aid local non-profit organizations in their professional
writing needs and help further this mission in Salt Lake City. In return this allows all
members of the group to gain valuable hands on experience with local business and
create lasting community relationships.

We will be working alongside to aid Friends for Sight to conduct secondary and primary
research to help identify the effectiveness of digital eye screening and how this might
impact their field further.

We intended to take the time to understand the basis and groundwork of why new
technologies are needed to conduct eye screenings and how this aids not only Friends
for Sight but all those who have been affected or may be prevented from dealing with
loss of sight or other sight problems.

By the end of this semester our goal is to have a finished research project with results
for Friends for Sight as well as an established research and volunteer relationship with
Friends for Sight that can be continued after the semester.