NAACP Resolution on Vision Therapy

AURORA, Ohio, Sept. 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A routine visit to the eye doctor resulted
in a national resolution that was passed by the NAACP at its 100th Anniversary Convention held in
New York City, endorsing optometric vision therapy as a way to help some prisoners become
productive members of society.

When Charles Brittingham, President of the Wilmington, DE Branch of the NAACP, went for his
yearly eye exam, he was amazed to learn how vision problems can impact academic performance,
contribute to high school dropout rates, juvenile delinquency and prison recidivism. Once he
learned how these vision problems can be treated, and read what parents and children had to say
about how their lives were changed academically, behaviorally and even emotionally by receiving
optometric vision therapy, he knew he had to do something.

Working together with his optometrist and life NAACP member, Dr. Alton A. Williams, Brittingham
wrote a resolution that was passed unanimously by the NAACP Delaware branch. The resolution
acknowledged the role that vision therapy can play in reducing the high rate of recidivism and
encouraged members to "take aggressive action to have Vision Therapy included in all re-entry
programs for formerly incarcerated persons." But that wasn't enough for Brittingham, he wanted to
make sure that this issue received national attention.

Christine Waters, Education Committee Chairperson, NAACP Freeport Roosevelt, Long Island, NY,
spoke in support of this resolution, "...current research indicates that approximately 1 in 4 children
has vision disorders that interfere with their ability to learn. The problems can exist and yet
teachers and parents are not aware of them. The symptoms mimic attention deficit disorder, and so
I move that... we adopt this resolution." In addition, Waters proposed amendments that focused on
prevention, which were also passed unanimously.

Waters, a teacher at Barnum Woods in East Meadow, NY with 30 years of experience in
elementary education, knows firsthand the impact that vision problems can have on a child's
education. Nine years ago vision therapy changed her son's life. He used to complain about
headaches, and struggle with completing class work and homework. She had no idea that he was
seeing double images when he tried to read. Like most children, he had no idea that wasn't normal
vision. Once his vision problem was corrected through vision therapy he became more confident
and was able to complete required tests, class work and homework. This past May he graduated
from the University of Hartford with a Bachelor's Degree in Fine Arts and Music Education.
Without vision therapy this would not have been possible.

The NAACP resolution calls for its members and units to educate the community, elected officials
and correctional facilities about the merits of optometric vision therapy in helping to reduce the
recidivism rate in some prisoners thereby increasing opportunities for persons reentering society.

According to the American Optometric Association, over 60% of children who have difficulty with
learning have undiagnosed vision problems which are not detectable by routine vision screenings.
Dr. Carol Scott, a developmental optometrist from Springfield Missouri and President of the College
of Optometrists in Vision Development (COVD), shares, "Considering that 85 percent of all juvenile
delinquents nationwide have reading difficulties, it is vital that everyone support the NAACP and
ensure that not only are juvenile delinquents and prisoners screened for learning related vision
problems, but all children who have any difficulty with learning; even the bright underachievers."

"I applaud the NAACP for acknowledging vision therapy as a valid treatment for the outcomes it is
able to achieve," said ophthalmologist and NAACP member from Delaware, Dr. Bruce Sumlin,
"Optometric vision therapy makes sense. It is very similar to other kinds of treatment and
therapies we provide in the medical disciplines which help to develop neural connections in the
brain."

John B. Ferguson III, MD, a Delaware ophthalmologist who has been in practice for over 34 years,
was not always a strong believer in vision therapy. When asked what made him change his mind,
Dr. Ferguson shared, "Among ophthalmologists, vision therapy has been thought to be reserved for
certain eye muscle disorders. I was unaware, and I believe many other ophthalmologists are also
unaware, of the significant effects that these eye muscle disorders have on the attitude and
behavior of some children. I thought that at the most these children, if left untreated, might
experience headaches or read less efficiently. However, I had the opportunity to speak with
children and the parents of children who went through vision therapy and I was very impressed by
the dramatic and positive academic and behavioral changes they experienced."

SOURCE: College of Optometrists in Vision Development (COVD)