Welcome to the Montgomery Adult Vision Program(2011-2013)

Website No Longer Active(For Past Program verification and research purposes only)
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Michael P. Lewis

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
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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)



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.

This year we have screened over 74 students ; in which we have so far verified that 97% have indications of SSS, of which 75% are severe and 25% are moderate.

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
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2012 Vision student's graduation
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Graduate was happy to be able to use the colored overlay for her GED Exams


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Graduate GED 2013, Luisa Corvera
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2013 Graduate Claudinea Bandiera,


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Instructor Leslie Peters of sensoryprocessingcourses .com
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Michael Lewis visit to Omega School in Madisom Wisconsin, teachers and director Oscar Morales were excited to hear and learn about MOA's vision program.



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Vision class Spring 2012


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

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Above: Manuael Flores was the first student after being screened for colored overlays to pass the official GED test, 11/2011,
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Students in vision class Fall 2011

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Students doing visual Eye Movement Control exercises


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Thank you vision class.


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Leonardo was finnally able to pass the practice Math GED after using color overlays for the first time.
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Daniel achieved a 12 point CASAS gain by using his overlays.





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) Project (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

  • 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

    PERFORMANCE CLUES

  • 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

    SECONDARY SYMPTOMS

  • Smart in everything but school
  • Low self-esteem, poor self image
  • Temper flare-ups, aggressiveness
  • Frequent crying
  • Short attention span
  • Irritability
  • Day dreaming

    LABELED

  • 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.


Suspected vision problem suggestions.docx

Exercises for learning.docx


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 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting
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619-298-5273 FREE 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 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting
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619-477-2159 FREE 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 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting
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619 518-1854 FREE end_of_the_skype_highlighting


Hours: Sat-Sun 6 am - 5 pm