Prime Time in Arizona

Ah spring- the bright blue skies, balmy days, and wildflowers of spring in the desert are exhilirating and far too short lived. But thankfully for all of us, here at your favorite non-profit dedicated to frequent vision screenings and the eradication of childhood vision disorders, spring in Arizona has served as a beautiful backdrop for a season of community outreach and opportunity.

I’d like to take this opportunity to give a shout out to some to the amazing organizations and people we’ve had the privilege of presenting to and working with over the last few months, as Public Allies Americore Members for VisionQuest 20/20, during this beautiful spring season in Arizona:

Erin Thomas and everyone at Communities in Schools of Arizona
Terry Luben and the wonderful group at San Tan Crown Rotary Club in Chandler
Nurse Heidi Block
Nurse Lucy Samuels
Riverside Elementary School District #2
The ADHS Vision Screening Guidelines Taskforce
Lindy Stalkfleet and all of the members of the Chaparral Elementary School PTA
Cristina Hite and the Arizona PTA

Lets here it for these incredible community members and organizations!

And, as always, if you would like to find out more about how to get involved, please follow us on twitter and facebook and visit our website (www.visionquest2020.org)

Moments for Pause…

I’ve been thinking about the moments for pause that I’ve had recently.  Working for VisionQuest 20/20 has given me pause more than once over the last eight months- and not just because I was waiting patiently while yet another child took a moment to crook their finger and say arrrrgh! because they were wearing one of our eye patches; although that always makes me smile.  I suppose I started thinking about these moments and pauses because I was asked to be a guest blogger and I therefore had to think of something to write about. (Such things, it seems to me, always make one pensive.)  Out of all of these moments, the ones I keep coming back to are the ones that center around our vision screening program itself.  I mean, not too many people have even stopped to consider how necessary vision screenings are, let alone decided that the best answer to this public health issue is a video game for kids.  And there, I had to pause again.

When you really stop to think about it, EyeSpy 20/20 is pretty genius, and no I’m definitely not biased.  What I mean by this statement is simply that being able to see a video game as a solution to a serious public health issue, a means for changing or at least significantly impacting our public health model, or even just the best way to conduct vision screenings, requires a different way of thinking.  So when I’m out giving presentations about our program, when I’m explaining how the game works to a friend or family member, and even when I’m talking to local businesses and community members about supporting our organization, this is what I come back to.  When I hear a school nurse tell me they can’t afford it or they’re too over-loaded and under-staffed, this is what I come back to.  The very existence of EyeSpy 20/20 reminds me that sometimes, it just requires a different way of thinking.  Now I know what you’re thinking, and I’m not about to get all sentimental go-getter on you.  But you have to admit, it gives you pause. 

When I see that kid, taking his pause to play the pirate, because we gave him an eye patch, it makes me realize that creative solutions to public health issues, that games like EyeSpy 20/20, didn’t just come out of thin air- they came from a different way of thinking, from a place where critique and creativity aren’t simply tolerated but encouraged.  As I think about that kid in his blue no-peeking eye patch, intent on winning the game while we make sure his eyes and his brain are working correctly, are working together, I hope that he’s being taught a different way of thinking.

Congratulations to the Fowler Elementary School District #45 for receiving 800 free screenings from VisionQuest 20/20! Much thanks to the Arizona Diamondbacks for making this happen. We will begin taking nominations for 2,000 free vision screenings from APS shortly. Stay posted!

Hard to See

I have seen Avatar in Digital 3-D twice since it came out, and I must say, I LOVE IT! The movie is fascinating, the graphics and technology are incredible, and I fell in love with the entire experience. I have also become extremely excited about the prospect of more digital 3-D films being released, and cannot wait to see where the industry moves. As I was thinking more about the future of film, I realized a horrifying truth; children with monocular blindness cannot see in 3-D. Suddenly the thought came crashing down. That meant no Avatar, Ice Age 3-D, Alice in Wonderland 3-D and all of the movies that are soon to exist. I began to wonder how much children would be missing out on in the future. Up until recently, 3-D films were a fun, but isolated industry. Now, it seems that these types of films will soon explode on the market, leaving children with monocular blindness to feel left out. I imagined all the birthday parties, social events, and field trips that are likely to revolve around such films and felt a soreness in my heart.

I decided to conduct some research on the issue, and found that numerous amblyopia articles were exploring this same problem. Articles were mentioning that a large amount of the adult and child population are unable to see these films, or find them to be blurry or nauseating . At first I was saddened by this news, but then realized this could be extemely positive. It may finally be the outlet needed to educate the general population about conditions like Amblyopia, and how they are treatable at an early age. Children COULD see 3-D films, if the condition is caught earlier enough. I am really interested to see where all of this goes. Hopefully all of the recent press will be used in a positive way!

Thank you to all that nominated a school or district in Arizona to receive 1,000 free vision screenings from VisionQuest 20/20 and the Arizona Diamondbacks! The winner will be announced in mid-February. Be on the look out for more opportunities from our free screening campaign!

A Day at Papago Elementary

“Screening season”, as we call it, had wrapped up by the end of November, and I found myself feeling a little disappointed. I was going to miss screening days! No more interacting with children, no more fun games, no more detections of vision disorders. I was feeling like something was missing until I was reminded about a last minute screening in January. We were sent to Papago Elementary in Phoenix to help the nurses conduct a two day screening, and it was a blast! I nearly forgot how wonderful it feels to be around the kids and to know that you’re helping them succeed in school. The kids were great, and the nurses from the district made the day go by fast and with ease. Papago was like any normal screening, but with a few exceptional moments.

One child was completely blind in his right eye, and still wanted to play the EyeSpy 20/20 game. His left eye passed with flying colors and he was filled with pride as completed each level. We also had a boy with severe autism who was able to complete the game with little assistance. He raved about the game and exclaimed that he had so much fun. His aide mentioned after that he couldn’t stop talking about it! It felt amazing to know that we helped make these boys feel so great about themselves.

We also found a few children who could not even see the largest optotypes. It is always shocking to realize that these children are struggling in class because they cannot read the board, and have no idea that they have a problem because they don’t know anything else. While these moments are sad, it is reassuring to know that they will be referred to a eye care professional for proper treatment. Being at Papago Elementary reignited my spark about the mission of the organization that I work for. I was reminded of the important work we do, and the lives we affect. I hope that we are able to assist with more screenings this year!

Thanks to a generous donation from the Arizona Diamondbacks, VisionQuest 20/20 has 1,000 vision screenings to donate to up to three schools within a single Arizona school district. Please nominate schools and/or a district that you would like to see benefit from this unique opportunity. You can post your nomination on Facebook, or e-mail us at info@visionquest2020.org by January 31st. The selected schools and/or school district will be announced March 1st!

Make a difference in 2010

I hope that everyone enjoyed the holidays and the start of the new year! I am truly looking forward to 2010 and the excitement it will bring. Despite the economic conditions of the past year, I was moved by the generosity of people in this country and around the world. Though there was less money to give to those in need, people made up for what they lacked in donations by dedicating their time and energy to volunteering. I predict and hope that we will experience the same mobilization of volunteers in 2010. In the spirit of the new year, I decided to create an action list for those who want to help children with undetected and detected vision disorders. There is no reason why a child should have to live with a treatable vision disorder! Here is how you can help:

1. Contact your school nurse and let them know about VisionQuest 20/20.
2. Donate to our website or Facebook Cause’s page.
3. Schedule a VisionQuest 20/20 presentation at your school.
4. Contact your school’s PTA/PTO or local businesses about sponsoring VisionQuest 20/20 at your school.
5. Add us on Twitter and Facebook.
6. Follow our blog or blog for VisionQuest 20/20.
7. Donate glasses to your local Lion’s Club.
8. Write to your legislators about mandating annual vision screenings in your state.
9. Write a letter to an editor in our support.
10. Call an eye doctor to schedule an appointment for your child or yourself today.

Contact us at 1-888-MY-VQ2020 or info@visionquest2020.org or visit our website at http://www.visionquest2020.org for more information.

Chase is donating $5 millon dollars to charities/non-profits through Chase Community Giving.

Please join me in voting to support VisionQuest 20/20, the nation’s only non-profit organization dedicated to eliminating preventable blindness through effective vision screenings in schools. One in four children has a vision disorder, many of them undetected. VisionQuest 20/20′s proven effective program will identify those children and notify parents so the problem can be addressed and treated before it’s too late. Sadly, after age nine some disorders can’t be treated resulting in permanent vision loss. VisionQuest 20/20 has screened more than 50,000 children to date. With your support they can reach the millions who need this inexpensive and important test!

Reconnecting with our mission

Today my co-workers and I worked on a video post for the VisionQuest 20/20 website. It has been a while since I’ve had to be recorded, and I forgot how difficult it is! It seems so easy when you watch someone else, but I found myself feeling silly and nervous. When we were finished with filming, we checked in with our Program Director to make sure she was satisfied with the product. After watching, she asked us why we chose to work for VisionQuest 20/20. Angela and I both answered, and Gretchen responded with, “you are answering with your head, not your heart”. This statement got me thinking. We posed the question to her, and she responded with the most beautiful answer. It was thought-provoking, full of passion, and reminded me why it is so important to work from the heart. I was reminded all over again why I work for VisionQuest 20/20; it is for the kids.

We do not exist to just promote a product or increase awarness about vision disorders. We exist to positively impact the lives of children. We exist to make certain that they are provided with the tools they need to succeed in school and in life. We exist for them. Improving the life of just one child by providing them with the gift of sight is enough to make our hard work worth every minute.