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= Welcome to the Montgomery Adult Vision Program(2011-2013) = Website No Longer Active(For Past Program verification and research purposes only) Founder/Webmaster/Teacher/Irlen Screener: Michael P. Lewis ( 619 944-6271 ) mlewis8213@aol.com

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Left to Right: Montgomery Adult School Principal: Adriana Sanchez-Aldana; District Administrator Lisa Diaz(trained in Vision Assesment and Activities)
Teacher Partners in Vision Program 2011/2012



Left to right, Top to Bottom: Merlyne Plantz, Laurianne Bella, Ted Parsons, Michelle Dullea, Sharon Valencia, Monty Lish, Lisa James and Courtney Granillo(Classroom vision activity teacher)

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 * The first certification training __division-wide__ was completed which included teachers/classroom assistant from Montgomery Adult School, National City Adult School and San Ysidro Adult School. (For more info see 11/02/2012 update) **

Work Shop Presentation for San Diego Read Tutor Conference = __//**Best Practices For the State of California Video Shoot**//__ = = __//**For updated write-up **//__ = = We were asked to share our vision program in a Video Shoot, on April 13th, 2012 during the 8am-10am class, via the San Diego County Office of Education. Read info from below: = == Colton, Redlands, Yucaipa Regional Occupations Program (CRY_ROP) was award funding through CTE-TEACH by CDE. They contracted San Diego County Office of Ed video production department to shoot videos of best practices to develop an archive of best practices that teachers state wide can view at their discretion. Videos will be shared in a number of websites including CTEONLINE. ==

=**The 2012 CASAS gains as of 6/01/2012 were outstanding**:=
 * ==Students with less than 10 hours of class time achieved average CASAS **gains of 5.2**.==
 * ==Students with 10 hours or more of class time had average CASAS **gains of 7.7**.==
 * ==ABE benchmarks had an increase of 50% per student.==
 * =**CASAS Significant Gains and students completing 2 levels in CASAS testing went from 33% to 150% increases in ABE and High School levels**=
 * ==Additionally, we had **10 GED/high school graduates** of students that went through the Vision Program, which represented **20% of our GED graduates**.==
 * ==Most importantly, **testimonials** from teachers and students have been **positively overwhelming.**==

__//**Click to see project updates**//__ = =







D aniel Chavez and Maria Morante (above) First GED graduates from the Vision Program(Spring 2011)







= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =//**__Message from Coordinator__**//= = = Schools are federally mandated that students be screened for 20/20 sight. That is only testing to see if they can see from 20 feet away. There are many other vision skills (at least 15) that must be checked which include: eyes moving smoothly together, focusing speed, peripheral vision, visual memory etc... Learning in those with vision deficiencies will not be efficient and can manifest itself from a withdrawn student, with low self-esteem( I know I am smart...but I can't read fast) to a delinquent student on the road to gang activity or prison(If I can't make it in school, I'll make it in crime).

Research has shown that 1 in 4 children in a classroom have not developed adequate visual skills needed to function properly, particularly when working up close during tasks such as reading, writing and computer use, which places high demands on our visual systems. Parents and teachers often equate their children’s symptoms to other problems, such as learning disabilities or attention deficit disorders, when, actually, their difficulties in the classroom are undiagnosed vision problems. Further research has shown that 80% of High School dropouts have vision related learning disorders.

At Montgomery Adult School (MOA) we have developed a Vision Program(screening procedures and class, facilitated by Michael Lewis and Courtney Granillo, for daily vision activities within the Adult Basic Education reading program presently established) that will meet the needs of students that, by default, fall into the 80% category of high school dropouts with vision related learning disorders. In the summer of 2010 a pilot model was set up by Michael Lewis/Foundation for the Disabled Learner (FDL), MOA and SUHSD Adult Division in collaboration with Dr. Judy Lopez OD of Chula Vista, CA that confirmed vision problems, when screened. We then confirmed positive progress when vision activities were done for three weeks with a small number of struggling students.

We have since committed to furthering this program. All teachers participating in the MOA program have now taken the online Vision & Learning courses through sensoryprocessingcourses.com, which you can access through the link at the bottom of this page, followed by a full-day of vision development activity training on site. Materials licensed through this program are used to screen students as a foundation for classroom vision development. Michael Lewis has been Certified to screen for visual color sensitivity, using the Irlen Method.

Total support includes: **Leslie Peters of sensoryprocessingcourses.com** (provides consultation, training and support), **Foundation for the Disabled Learners, FDL**(Support and funding when needed for economically depressed students), **SUHSD Adult Division** and the **Technology Integration Mentor Academy (TIMAC) Projec**t (provides technology and mentorship training), Irlen Institute (provided training for certification of two teachers for screening of students for Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrome/Irlen Syndrome).

The model for this program was Inspired by the model of research by Dr. Willard Bleything (Professor of Optometry and Public Health, Pacific University of Optometry) "The Effectiveness of a Group Delivered Vision ... Program) and Martha Y. Gooden Lewis( MA Ed teacher/Reading Specialist, Porter Elementary, San Diego Unified School District, San Diego, CA) "Visual Learning Development in a Group Setting Within an Inner City School).

How can we get more students motivated to learn? How can we increase test scores, especially in higher grade levels and college where reading and math skills are more demanding? How can we stop more students from joining gang activities, in order to find some type of self worth? How can we decrease crime rate and prison time in the adult community? How about a __full__ vision check? __It has the potential to save many, and for the economy, money (building and maintaining prisons and detention homes are expensive)!__ But first **__we__** start **__here in our district__**, then the **__state__**, Then we go on to **__Washington for national recognition__** for a federal law to authorize this Vision.

--- all of the print above was written by ---Michael P. Lewis

= Program UPDATE = = = = Click here for Pictures and Testimonials = = = = = =**For Information on sreening for color sensitivity(Irlen Syndrome**) = = click here [|Irlen.com] = = = = = = __Sensoryprocessingcourses.com(vision training course)__ click[| here] =

= For additional information on the the need for a vision program click __pavevision.org Click__ [|here] =

= = Vision Skills Tested Visual Efficiency skills 1. Eye Movement Control—Saccadic movement (eyes jump smoothly); Fixation (eyes fix on one spot long enough); Pursuit (eye can track moving target smoothly) 2. Focus— The ability to sustain and shift focus 3. Peripheral Vision—What is seen outside of primary focus area 4. Eye Teaming—Ability to use both eyes together

Visual Perception Skills 1. Laterality & Directionality—Understanding where ones body is relative to everything else 2. Visual Closure—The ability to mentally close an incomplete picture 3. Visual Discrimination—The ability to discriminate similarities and differences in shapes letter or forms 4. Figure-Ground—The ability to distinguish between information in the foreground and information in the background 5. Eye-hand Coordination—The ability of the eyes and brain to coordinate hand movements 6. Form Reproduction—The way in which linear and geometric forms are perceived and then reproduced 7. Visual Memory-- The ability to see an image in your mind

Sensory System 1. Auditory Sequencing—The ability to take in sequential auditory information and process it automatically 2. Vestibular Sequencing---For body balance and spatial orientation

The following **__Teachers Check List__** may indicate that your student has a VISION PROBLEM:

PHYSICAL CLUES
> ==PERFORMANCE CLUES== > ==SECONDARY SYMPTOMS== > ==LABELED==
 * Red, sore, or itching eyes
 * Jerky eye movements, one eye turns in or out
 * Squinting, eye rubbing, or excessive blinking
 * Blurred or double vision
 * Headaches, dizziness, or nausea after reading
 * Head tilting, closing or blocking one eye when reading
 * Avoidance of near work
 * Frequent loss of place
 * Omits, inserts, or rereads letters/words
 * Confuses similar looking words
 * Failure to recognize the same word in the next sentence
 * Smart in everything but school
 * Low self-esteem, poor self image
 * Temper flare-ups, aggressiveness
 * Frequent crying
 * Short attention span
 * Irritability
 * Day dreaming
 * Lazy
 * Dyslexic
 * Attention deficit disorder
 * Slow learner
 * Behavioral problem
 * Juvenile delinquent
 * Working below potential

If any of the symptoms above occur your student should be referred to vision screening (see suggestion below) also see exercises.
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=__Vision activities__ for the class click [|here]= = = =__Vision teacher's training__ program click[| here]=

** For Free/Low cost 20/20 screening and glasses: ** ** Lions Optometric Vision Clinic is at 1805 Upas St. San Diego, CA 92103 ** phone# 619-298-5273<span class="skype_pnh_mark"> begin_of_the_skype_highlighting
 * <span class="skype_pnh_container"><span class="skype_pnh_highlighting_inactive_common"><span class="skype_pnh_text_span">619-298-5273 <span class="skype_pnh_free_text_span"> FREE <span class="skype_pnh_mark">end_of_the_skype_highlighting  Director:Marcia De Runtz. **

** For Color Tinting of Lenses (plastic preferred for best color) ** ** Contact Adrian Ojeda Of Eye Care : Optometry Associates ** ** 1481 E. Plaza Blvd, National City Ca. 91950 ** 619-477-2159<span class="skype_pnh_container"><span class="skype_pnh_mark"> begin_of_the_skype_highlighting
 * <span class="skype_pnh_container"><span class="skype_pnh_highlighting_inactive_common"><span class="skype_pnh_text_span">619-477-2159 <span class="skype_pnh_free_text_span"> FREE <span class="skype_pnh_mark">end_of_the_skype_highlighting  ECAoptometry.com **

** For Sun Glasses of many Colors ** **see Jamal** **of __Sunshade__** **at the Spring Valley Swap Meet** **6377 Quarry Rd (between Alpha Ave & Lakeview Ave) Spring Valley CA. 91977** **Email : albahsan@cox.net** **Let Him Know that Michael Lewis of the MOA Vision Program sent you** **for a 10% discount** for specific color call 619 518-1854<span class="skype_pnh_container"><span class="skype_pnh_mark"> begin_of_the_skype_highlighting
 * <span class="skype_pnh_container"><span class="skype_pnh_highlighting_inactive_common"><span class="skype_pnh_text_span">619 518-1854 <span class="skype_pnh_free_text_span"> FREE <span class="skype_pnh_mark">end_of_the_skype_highlighting  **

**Hours: Sat-Sun 6 am - 5 pm**