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Watch the Webinar
Closing the Gap: Helping Families Remove Barriers to Eye Care After Receiving Referrals from Vision Screening
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During our November 6 webinar, P. Kay Nottingham Chaplin, EdD; Presciliana Olayo, MLS; Shondel Wade-Reese, RN-BSN; and Shanyn A. Toulouse, DNP, MEd, BSN, RN, NCSN discussed how families could best navigate their referrals from vision screening to eye care.
Webinar Summary
Presentation Slides
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Prevent Blindness wishes you and your families happy holidays this December! With winter break around the corner, this is a great time for you and your colleagues to take the Children’s Vision Screening Certification Course from Prevent Blindness. This is an online, on-demand, self-paced course that provides learning in common vision disorders, age-appropriate vision screening tools, and educational resources.
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Children's Vision Screening Training Course | |
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Individuals who conduct vision screenings should be trained to properly use evidence-based tools and procedures. Otherwise, young children and students may participate in vision screenings with different tools and procedures depending on where they reside or which programs and schools they attend. This varied approach leads to potential under-referrals, over-referrals, and inconsistencies that can drive inequalities in children’s vision, eye care, and eye health.
To help ensure a consistent and standardized approach, the national Prevent Blindness Children's Vision Screening Certification Course provides training and certification in evidence-based children's vision screening protocols and techniques. The Course also highlights ways to help decrease the gap between referrals from vision screening and confirmatory eye examinations. In addition to online, on-demand, self-paced modules, the Course provides individualized virtual skills mentoring sessions using the teach-back methodology to ensure screeners use tools correctly and are comfortable with how they screen vision and follow up with families. This national certification is valid for 3 years. You will also receive 5 contact hours for professional development. Discounts are available beginning with a group of 10 learners.
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From the Small Steps for Big Vision Tool Kit: Tips for Children Who Break Glasses | |
Toy Safety During the Holidays (And All Year) | |
The December holidays often mean new toys for children, and in the excitement of purchasing and opening gifts, we may forget to thoroughly read instructions and closely supervise children at play. Families can prepare by knowing safe practices and safe play with toys that are potential hazards for the eyes. | |
Know the Facts!
Eye injuries are the most common cause of permanent vision loss in young children (0-4 years). Did you know?
- Eye injuries in children often occur during play.
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Children account for one-third of all emergency department eye injury visits.
With Each New Toy:
- Read all warnings and instructions on the box.
- Keep young children away from toys meant for older children.
- Supervise children while they play.
- Avoid purchasing toys with sharp or rigid points, spikes, rods, or dangerous edges.
- Look for the letters “ASTM.” This means the product meets the national safety standards set by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM).
- Avoid toys that shoot projectiles or include parts that fly off, such as projectile guns, darts, and rockets.
- Remember that BB guns are NOT toys.
- Only allow children to play with toys in the way described in the instructions.
More Resources
Home and Toy Eye Safety for Children
Tips for Choosing Safe Toys
Eye Injury Fact Sheet (Office of Head Start’s National Center on Health, Behavioral Health, and Safety)
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Publication: Myths and Facts Surrounding Assistive Technology Devices and Services | |
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The Office of Educational Technology and the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) at the U.S. Department of Education (the Department) published a guidance document, Myths and Facts Surrounding Assistive Technology Devices and Services (U.S. Department of Education, 2024). The publication provides support on a range of issues related to the procurement, implementation, and evaluation of assistive technology (AT) devices and services for children with disabilities. The Department presents these issues in a series of 28 myths, each accompanied by a clarifying fact and a detailed explanation grounded in the requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
The Department’s “Myths and Facts” approach effectively clarifies the most common misconceptions about local educational agency (LEA) responsibilities related to the provision of AT devices and services under IDEA. The document pertains to both Parts B and C of the IDEA.
Read the Guidance Document
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Medicaid/CHIP Renewal and Transition Resources for Partners | |
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Federal agencies provide key resources in one centralized location so all partners (e.g., states, beneficiary and provider organizations, and advocates, among others) can better assist people with Medicaid or Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) renew their health coverage or find other coverage options that may be a better fit for them.
Medicaid and CHIP Renewal and Transition Resources for Partners | HHS.gov
On this page, you’ll find:
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Postcard for Families with Medicaid or CHIP (English and Spanish): Help families keep coverage for their children.
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Fillable Postcard for Families with Medicaid or CHIP (English and Spanish): Customize this postcard with state Medicaid information to help families keep coverage for their children.
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Postcard for Renewing Children’s Medicaid or CHIP (English, Spanish, and Tribal-Focused): Assist children in taking steps to keep their health coverage.
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Fillable Postcard for Renewing Children’s Medicaid or CHIP (English and Spanish, and Tribal-Focused): Customize this postcard with state Medicaid or CHIP information to help children take steps to keep their health coverage.
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Support Children's Vision and Eye Health Policies | |
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Join your colleagues and sign up to receive Prevent Blindness action alerts and advocacy newsletters. You’ll learn about important federal policies and initiatives and how to make your voice heard to increase attention to children’s vision.
Sign up for advocacy alerts
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Support children's vision and eye health and make your gift today! | | | | |
