Teachers' Union endorses NY Eye Exam Legislation
The New York State United Teachers (Nysut), the American's largest teachers' union representing over 500,000 current and retired educators, has declared their support for the pending children's vision legislation in New York state, the Kids Healthy Vision Bill (A70102 and S5374-A).
The legislation, introduced by Assemblyman Steve Sanders and Senator Charles Fuschillo, would reform the current vision screening system in New York by requiring children to receive an eye exam from an ophthalmologist or optometrist before starting school.
The need for this legislation was demonstrated by a pilot program conducted by the New York Children's Vision Coalition in 2002. The program provided comprehensive eye exams to New York City school students in underachieving schools. Of the 322 school children receiving the exams, 39 percent were found to need further vision care.
In addition, the New York City Department of Health recently admitted that 80 percent of children who failed a vision screening did not receive proper follow-up care, including 50 percent of the kids with the most serious problems.
'Children are falling through the cracks of the current system and their health and ability to learn are suffering as a result', said Dr. Andrea Thau, an optometrist and spokesperson for the New York Children's Vision Coalition. 'The support of the Nysut is testament to the increased awareness and subsequent support this issue is receiving from both the medical and educational communities'.
In its effort to secure enactment of the legislation, the New York Children's Vision Coalition has generated significant media coverage throughout the state, including six editorials published in the New York Daily News, an article in the New York Sun and multiple broadcasts on radio and television stations. Additional coverage is likely in the coming weeks.
The New York Children's Vision Coalition will continue to actively work with the local media and with legislators in the state capital of Albany to bring attention to the unmet vision needs of students of the New York school system.
