Songs for Sight is a musical celebration which raises awareness and funds for the UAB Center for Low Vision Rehabilitation and to support research efforts for the Optic Nerve Imaging Center. The next event is Friday, March 4, 2011 at the Alys Stephens Center in Birmingham, Alabama. General tickets will go on sale January 1, 2011.

The steering committee for this event is a partnership among the UAB Department of Ophthalmology, the Eye Sight Foundation of Alabama, and a group of community volunteers dedicated to supporting our mission.

Our Mission
To create a unique musical event that entertains, educates and inspires others while providing financial support to the UAB Center for Low Vision Rehabilitation and eye research.

History of the Idea
Songs for Sight was created in 2008 by Alie B. Gorrie. Alie B. was born with a congenital vision disorder called Optic Nerve Hypoplasia. Having been a patient at the University of Alabama at Birmingham's Eye Foundation Hospital and a patient at UAB's Low Vision Rehabilitation Center, Alie B. wanted to give back to the place and people that had given her the help and resources she needed growing up with low vision. Here is her story...

At the age of 14, I visited Dr.Dawn DeCarlo at the UAB Center for Low Vision Rehabilitation where she informed me that I would be able to drive with the assistance of bioptic telescope glasses and many hours of training. I was overwhelmed with excitement because I had previously only been told that driving a car would not be possible. The independence that comes with driving was a huge barrier that I could overcome. I wanted to give back so that others could experience what I was going to be able to accomplish.

I have so much hope thanks to the UAB Center for Low Vision Rehabilitation, and also because of the research that can be done at UAB. I want to help the very talented researchers at UAB who are in eye research. The Optic Nerve Imaging Center is a very exciting project and may hold the key to significant advances in several areas of optic nerve research. I certainly have hope that one day, the researchers will be able to address the very complicated issues surrounding optic nerve damage and optic nerve abnormalities.

Songs for Sight is the idea that will bring it all together. I love music and have been involved with musical theatre since I was very young. I decided a concert was the perfect way to combine my passion for music and my love and compassion towards others. I believe music can really make such a lasting impact on people and bring so much hope into their lives. I am overjoyed about bringing in people I have met and admired over the years to perform a unique concert to raise money and awareness for low vision and eye research. These concerts will not only feature amazing performing artists, it will also be one-of-a kind events in which the audience will truly get to experience what low vision looks like.