Currently,
California Legislators are considering three vision bills:
AB 1095 - Requires comprehensive eye exams when entering school
AB 1096 - Funds pilot vision programs in low performing schools
SB 606 - Adds testing for reading related vision skills---near acuity, eye tracking, focus and convergence skills---to the California school screening statute
P.A.V.E.® is a strong supporter of all three bills and encourages all parents and teachers to let their legislators know that these bills need to be passed for the welfare of our children.
National
PTA Resolution passes unanimously urging local PTA units to educate parents,
educators and the public at large about the vital connection between vision
and learning and the need to improve vision screenings to test all the visual
skills critical for learning. The PTA Resolution states an estimated 10 million
children below the age of 10 have vision problems which affect their ability
to learn.
National
Society for the Prevention of Blindness estimates 10 million children in the
United States have undiagnosed vision problems!
A comprehensive
learning related vision screening administered to 600 children in grades K-8
showed that the regular school screening for visual acuity missed the following:
20-25%
of children enter school with significant vision problems that can affect their
development and progress in school. (National Center for Health Statistics)
Vision
disorders are the fourth most common disability in the United States and the
most prevalent handicapping condition in childhood. Between 8-12 million children
are affected. (American Foundation for Vision Awareness)
Current
California school vision screenings require testing for distance visual acuity
for all students and color vision for boys only. The Snellen distance acuity
test was developed in 1860 and measures only how clearly a child can see a row
of letters from 20 feet. It does not test the visual skills related to
reading.
The
presence of 20/20 visual acuity does NOT rule out the existence of other
vision problems which may compound or cause specific reading or learning problems.
(Seaton Study)
Assessment
of 1,000 Los Angeles school children showed that 47% suffered from vision impairments.
(Los Angeles Times - March 26, 1999)
Children
are the least likely age group to visit an eye care professional. (Better Vision
Institute)
Research
indicates that in "high risk" populations such as children born in poverty,
the ratio is likely to be many times higher for undiagnosed vision problems.
Students
who were rated as poor in motivation and performance by parents and teachers
were statistically more likely to have eye teaming, focusing, eye movement and
visual form reproduction problems. (P.A.V.E.-Marvin Elementary Research Project
testing 413 students in San Diego Unified School District in 1988-1989)
Optometrists
are discovering that many children who have been diagnosed with Attention Deficit
Disorder (ADD) also show shortfalls in vision tests. (San Bernardino Sun)
A lack
of learning-related vision skills may be setting some youngsters on the path
to hard core juvenile delinquency as early as first, second or third grade.
(Optometric Center of Maryland Study 1989)
70%
of juvenile delinquents tested have vision problems which interfere with their
ability to learn. Recidivism was reduced from 45% to 16% when wards received
on-site optometric vision therapy at the Regional Youth Education Facility in
San Bernardino, California (California Department of Youth Authority - 1989)
66%
of illiterate adults have vision problems. (National Center on Adult Literacy)
Kansas
offers a successful vision program called "Operation
Bright Start," which provides a free vision evaluation for all 3 year
olds in the state. Operation Bright Start is a program of the American Foundation
for Vision Awareness and can be offered in your state.
Kentucky
has passed their vision bill requiring professional eye evaluation for all students
before starting school.
Representative Fleagle (R-Franklin) has introduced a children's vision bill, House Bill 2561, that requires all children in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to have a comprehensive eye examination upon original entry into school and in the third and seventh grade by a licensed optometrist or ophthalmologist. This bill was designed to mirror the present dental requirements for all school children in the Commonwealth. In addition, the bill allows school districts to institute a program of comprehensive eye examinations by an optometrist or ophthalmologist if they so choose. House Bill 2561 has been referred to the Education Committee, which is chaired by Representative Jess Stairs (R-Fayette, Westmoreland), who is a co-sponsor. Currently HB 2561 has 30 co-sponsors.
HB 2561 is not a POA-sponsored bill; rather, it evolved because of a constituent letter to a representative that asked the simple question, "Why doesn't the State of Pennsylvania require that all children have an eye exam before they go to school?" The letter stated that the constituent's child, now 18, was diagnosed with everything from Attention Deficit Disorder to being learning disabled throughout his school life. After many years of bad grades, low self esteem and medication, a comprehensive eye examination was completed at age 14 and the diagnosis was binocular dysfunction and vision therapy was required.
POA was contacted to help draft the language of the bill because of groundwork laid by our Kids Welcome Here(sm) campaign and pediatric vision care initiative. As reported in the February 2002 Keystoner, Dr. Mark Boas testified in front of the State House Children and Youth Committee in support of a children's school readiness imitative. Dr. Boas testified about the importance of children's vision as it relates to learning and school readiness and stressed the importance of comprehensive eye examinations. Following his testimony, the committee expressed concern with the fact that eye examinations are not a requirement for children entering school and initiated discussion of the possibility of separate legislation to address the issue. Representative Fleagle is a member of the Children and Youth Committee.
Our Kids Welcome Here campaign has laid the groundwork for this legislation and we will continue all the efforts that have been put forth to educate every parent, school nurse, state agency administrator and legislator as to the importance of children's vision. House Bill 2561 enables POA to continue our message regarding the need for children to have their eyes examined, and therefore POA supports Representative Fleagle, the Education Committee and the PA General Assembly in their efforts with this legislation.
Let your voice be heard! E-mail or FAX your support letters to P.A.V.E.® and we will see to it that they reach your legislator. Thanks in advance for your support.
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