A vision care-based community service subject is offered to general university students for fulfillment of a service-learning compulsory credit requirement. Here, a professional health subject is taught in a way that caters to generalist learners. Students gain basic skills they can apply to provide vision screenings for the needy population. All…

School Based Health Centers (SBHC) are considered by experts as one of the most effective and efficient ways to provide preventive health care to children. Few programs are as successful in delivering health care to children at no cost to the patient, and where they are: in school. For many underserved children, The Children's Aid Society's…

Vision is the dominant sense, and the eyes are connected with almost every other part of the brain. If the vision system is poorly developed, children trying to learn suffer. Without good up close vision, students are handicapped even if no one knows or suspects it--they may not even know it themselves. Students do not know that the way they see…

Services provided 124 visually impaired students involved in a federal demonstration project in Oakland County, Michigan, (1979-1980) involved preliminary assessments, referral to a low vision specialist, and follow-up training. Development of a general remediation scheme and a team approach facilitated follow-up care and use of low vision aids.…

The Vision In Preschoolers (VIP) Study, is a multi-phased, multi-center study designed to identify screening tests that best detect vision problems in preschool children. The VIP Study uses mobile medical units that are specially equipped to conduct vision screenings and eye examinations. Known as Vision Vans, these mobile units are staffed by lay…

While a nationwide study of vision problems in children has not been conducted in over 30 years, the most recent NHIS (National Health Interview Survey) study shows vision problems are common in children, with an estimated 13.5 million children ages 0-17 affected. As of 2002, 30 states plus the District of Columbia "required" vision…

The visual acuity of 8 children, aged 2-7, with low vision and multiple handicaps was effectively tested using the Teller Acuity Cards and a preferential-looking procedure with operant modification. This inexpensive procedure was found to be suitable for at-home testing by itinerant vision specialists in developing countries or rural areas. (DB)

Children with intellectual disabilities have an increased risk of visual impairment, caused by both ocular and cerebral abnormalities, but this risk has not been quantified. The same applies to preterm children and children with cerebral palsy with a normal intelligence. Many cases probably go unidentified, because participation of these children…

This article discusses the importance of providing vision screening services to students who are difficult-to-test and describes strategies for providing such services. Included in the discussion is an overview of various instruments that may be used to test visual acuity, including the Parsons Visual. (Authors/JMK)

The article describes a vision screening program in Manitoba to identify high-risk children. Organizational strategies, instrumentation, and results of a study of the effectiveness of the screening process with 732 children are detailed. (Author)

Based on a longitudinal study of vision screening techniques for handicapped children at the Chester County (Pennsylvania) Child Development Center, the paper reports on the development of a battery of effective vision screening methods for children with low functioning handicapped children. Specific tests are described, including the Sheridan…

The article reports on a Michigan program for the screening of preschool children for visual defects. The development of the modified Snellen E for testing young children is described; other test procedures are outlined. Charts illustrate the growth of the program over a 12-year period. (PHR)

Comparison of a variety of vision screening methods used with preschool children led to modification of the standard Snellen E test called the Blackbird Vision Screening System. An instructional story using an "E-bird" was developed to teach children the various possible positions of the E. The visual confusion caused by the chart was…

A Toledo, Ohio, private agency has provided vision screening services for preschool and school age children, adults, and the elderly. This cost effective screening and sight conservation program involves both volunteers and professionals and screened 30,150 people in 1985 at a cost of $1.50 per individual. (DB)

The Parsons Visual Acuity Test (PVAT) described in the article has been developed for use with difficult-to-test individuals previously labeled untestable. The studies reported support use of the PVAT as an alternative screening procedure for identifying difficult-to-test persons who are in need of a professional eye examination. (Author/CL)