About the Webinar
This webinar session describes some of the common challenges and cultural beliefs that can create barriers to obtaining eye care and offers strategies for overcoming some of the barriers to eye care. The session will also provide information about financial assistance resources families may use to obtain an eye examination and eyeglasses, if needed, and describe how a team-based individualized Health Action Plan can serve as a facilitator to overcoming barriers to eye care.
Undiagnosed and untreated vision disorders in young children can interfere with learning. In an ideal world, the pathway from a vison screening resulting in a referral would immediately lead to a confirmatory eye examination and treatment or monitoring to help ensure children have their best vision now and for the future. The ideal pathway does not always continue beyond a vision screening referral, however. Anyone who follows up with families after their children receive a referral from a vision screening, including school nurses, social workers, Early Head Start and Head Start staff, and early care and education professionals can benefit from this webinar.
Learning Objectives:
- Describe three common barriers to scheduling and attending an eye examination after receiving a referral from a vision screening.
- Describe 3 strategies to help overcome barriers to eye care.
- List 1 financial resource that will cover the costs of an annual eye examination and a pair of prescription glasses and one financial resource for undocumented families.
Presenters:
Kay Nottingham Chaplin, EdD
Dr. Nottingham Chaplin is the Education and Outreach Coordinator for Prevent Blindness, working primarily with the National Center for Children’s Vision and Eye Health. She provides Technical Assistance throughout the United States and oversees the online Prevent Blindness Children’s Vision Screening Certification Course. Dr. Nottingham Chaplin has worked in vision screening 21 years, co-authored published papers regarding vision screening, and presented nearly 250 national webinars and evidence-based vision screening lectures at international, national, regional, state, and local venues. She helped to create “Vision Screening Guidelines by Age” and “Small Steps for Big Vision: An Eye Health Information Tool Kit for Parents and Caregivers” designed to help bridge the gap between vision screening referrals and follow-up eye exams.
Tasha Lockridge
Ms. Lockridge is the Manager of Eye Health Services at Prevent Blindness. For 17 years, she has managed 2 national voucher programs that assists income-challenged families with receiving low cost or free vision care throughout the United States. Recently, she assisted with the creation of a 3rd voucher program that is currently being piloted by two affiliates of Prevent Blindness. These programs serve more than 10,000 individuals annually by providing eye examinations and eyeglasses through participating sponsors.
Jessica Holden
Jessica Holden is the Health Services Manager at ATCAA Head Start in California. She has worked in Early Childhood Education for 18 years and for Head Start for 11 years. As a Health Services Manager, she develops, implements, and updates program plans related to health, dental health, safety, and nutrition. She assures all children receive required health screenings, including vision. If a child is referred, Jessica assures follow-up happens and meets with families as needed.