Community Leaders From Across The State Of New Jersey Support ChildSight®

Helen Keller International
Saturday, 28 April 2001

What's at stake? The vision of low-income middle school students.

Newark, NJ—April 28, 2001—Neighborhood leaders and parents from cities around the State met today at the Gateway Hilton to launch a campaign to convince New Jersey State Medical Assistance and Health Services Department to support a proven in-school program that addresses the vision needs of low-income middle school students. According to ChildSight®, a program division of Helen Keller Worldwide, currently running in five New Jersey communities, approximately 24% of middle school students need prescription eyeglasses.

ChildSight® staff, community leaders of the Neighborhood Leadership Initiative and the Parents Organizing Parents Strategy have a primary objective: to meet with state officials to consider how New Jersey State Medical Assistance and Health Services Department can support the ChildSight® program in the 30 special-needs Abbott School Districts. This was the heart of their conversations as the community came together demonstrating widespread, grassroots support for ChildSight®. Hundreds of letters have been received, many of which were read, from superintendents, mayors, nurses, teachers, council members, students and parents voicing their support.

Meredith Tilp, Vice President of ChildSight®, explained the vital connection between academic performance and seeing properly, "Children's eyes change as they reach puberty. ChildSight® recognizes the correlation between academic performance and the basic need to see properly. By working directly within junior high schools and providing free vision screening and eyeglasses—all within the school building—ChildSight® improves a student's vision, and also academic performance. Improved classroom participation, grades, and student behavior are proven outcomes. And that's why at ChildSight®, our motto is Bringing Education Into Focus."

Children were on hand, proudly wearing their ChildSight® eyeglasses, many personally expressing convincing arguments for "Why ChildSight®?" Equally convincing were remarks from Luis Vargas of Perth Amboy (Neighborhood Leadership Initiative) reminding the community that, "Years ago, we discovered the impact of lead-paint poisoning in inner-city neighborhoods. Now we've learned that one-quarter of the kids in our schools may have trouble seeing the chalkboard." The message for change rang loud and clear.

For more information, or to contact Helen Keller International, see their website at: www.hki.org