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AOA to host School Readiness Summit in 2011
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The American Optometric Association announced here at Optometry’s Meeting that it has planned a summit for 2011 to collaborate with the private sector, governmental agencies and other national organizations to raise awareness of the link between vision and learning and the importance of comprehensive eye exams before entering school.
 Dori M. Carlson |
President-elect Dori M. Carlson, OD, reported to the AOA’s House of Delegates that the primary goal of the AOA-hosted School Readiness Summit is to prepare children to be successful in school.
“It is about the continuum of vision care that begins in the first year of life, at 3 years of age, and before entering school,” Dr. Carlson said. “Our children deserve every chance to succeed in school, and being able to see is an integral part of the learning process.”
Members of the planning committee include the AOA, Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs, National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners, Vision Council, National Commission on Vision and Health, U.S. Department of Education, National
Association of School Nurses, American Speech Language and Hearing Association and National Head Start Association. The committee expects about 60 attendees, Dr. Carlson told Primary Care Optometry News.
She reported that the summit will provide the opportunity for these groups to collaborate their resources to help visually prepare children for school.
“The goal is that each participating organization will leave with a specific measurable objective and implementation strategy that will promote good visual performance in children before entering school,” Dr. Carlson added.
The summit will take place April 11 and 12, 2011, in Washington. – by Nancy Hemphill, ELS
- Contact the AOA for more information on the summit: (800) 365-2219; www.aoa.org.