Signs Your Child May Be Losing Vision

Encouraging healthy habits in children and teens is a crucial part of parenting. Parents and guardians discuss good health and ways to achieve healthy lifestyles. But eye health is often left out of the conversation.

There’s more to keeping eyes healthy than eating a steady diet of crunchy carrots. Routine eye check-ups are important for everyone, especially for developing eyes. It’s easy to forget about eye health and regular eye visits, especially when nothing seems unusual. Eyes continually develop and change as all other body parts grow in children. Routine eye doctor visits help parents stay on top of pediatric eye health and development and track potential changes.

A child’s pediatrician will conduct basic eye exams during appointments, but it is still important to schedule routine exams with pediatric eye doctors.

Four reasons to schedule exams with a doctor to check on your child’s pediatric eye health:

  1. Gives comprehensive eye exam.

  2. Tracks pediatric eye development.

  3. Access to cutting-edge tools and procedures.

  4. Detects and treats eye concerns.

Studies suggest that up to 10 percent of preschoolers and 25 percent of school-age youth experience vision concerns. This is why visiting an optometrist or ophthalmologist regularly is necessary. It’s recommended an eye doctor be seen as early as six months and definitely by age three.

Eye conditions exist and are not uncommon. Early detection can diagnose them and help parents and guardians establish plans, interventions, and protocols. In some cases, preventative measures can be taken.

Potential vision concern indicators:

There are a lot of signs that can indicate vision concerns in children. Some behaviors are more common indicators, though. Six common signs of vision concerns are:

  1. Frequent head tilting

  2. Poor hand-eye coordination

  3. Laterality concerns or directional confusion

  4. Short attention span

  5. Inconsistent reading pace

  6. Avoiding close-focus activities

According to the Mayo Clinic, other potential signs of vision concerns or vision loss include squinting, complaints of headaches or blurry vision, and, in some cases, depression.

It’s believed three-quarters of the U.S. population wears glasses. Of this, more than 25 percent are under the age of 18.

Next steps and available resources:

Wearing eyeglasses is common. Most people know someone who uses corrective lenses. Scheduling consistent eye exams for children helps detect these changes and allows a child to start wearing glasses sooner rather than later. The use of a corrective lens helps these kids educationally and socially.

If a child experiences vision loss that can’t be corrected, it’s okay. Vision loss can be scary and overwhelming, but early detection will help children grow and learn in a way that works for them. The sooner a diagnosis is determined, the sooner parents and guardians can create goals and plans with doctors and schools.

Resources are available for all ages, including infants. People with vision loss can excel in school and achieve success alongside peers. However, parents and guardians must be aware of what resources are available.

The next time you schedule appointments for your child’s pediatric eye health, don’t forget to include a check-up with an eye doctor. This is just as crucial as tracking any other type of development in children.

If you suspect your child may be losing vision, Outlook Enrichment is here to help. We can answer your questions and connect you with other organizations that can help. We also offer programs designed specifically for people with vision loss. Contact us to learn more.

Grandparenting with Grace: Addressing Vision Loss with Children

Many grandparents deal with significant vision loss later in life. Whether the impairment is acquired due to illness or injury, the first step is to move forward and adjust to late-life vision loss.

Ten months into her sight loss journey, Kate felt it was time to reach out and talk to her family about losing most of her vision. Her daughter agreed to visit and bring Kate’s grandchildren, ages five and seven. But where to begin? 

Being a parent and grandparent was rewarding and life-affirming, and she needed her family around more than ever before. While Kate still struggled to find the grace to accommodate her vision loss, she felt putting off being with her daughter and grandchildren would be more harmful. 

According to qualitative data from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), blindness is listed in the top ten disabilities affecting people 18 and over. Vision loss can drastically impact a person’s life and those who care for and about people who have compromised vision. Reduced vision among mature adults can result in social isolation, family stress, and an increased risk of developing other health conditions.

If you are like Kate and seek answers regarding how to approach the grandkids about losing your vision, you are not alone. Grandparenting while blind isn’t the tricky part. The hard part is adjusting to the initial vision loss. Sharing your experiences with loved ones is part of reducing stress and isolation.

Once the time to accommodate a visual impairment is achieved individually, it’s time to share it with grandkids. Be prepared to hear both simple and complex questions. Children are curious and open-minded. The fear or prejudice which they may develop about blindness is learned from adults. Providing them with a personal and genuine experience helps remove any other earlier exposures to disability bias. Be aware your grandchildren might be more informed than you know.

Many primary school curricula now include disability awareness presentations to educate children about people with disabilities.

Be ready to fence questions from a place of innocent curiosity, including:

One grandparent was asked how she would know how to find the cookies. Be prepared for the tough questions.

“How will you remember what we look like?” is one of these questions. Grandparents who have been asked similar questions suggest answering honestly and not changing the subject or ignoring it. Saying, “I don’t know, we will figure it out together,” may be the best reply. 

Hands-on tasks help

Show your grandchildren how walking with a white cane keeps you safer or how your smartphone reads labels. Connect with children in a fun and meaningful way.

It’s important to remain sensitive to their concerns and offers of help but also be mindful not to depend on them. Do as much as possible independently. One grandparent loves to take along with her twelve-year-old granddaughter food shopping. She shares the tasks between them, comparing prices. While it all seems mundane, the granddaughter is learning important life skills like reading, comparing labels or prices, and budgeting. 

Sports and activities 

Modifications for recreational activities and sports with your grandchildren are another way to regain confidence and reduce isolation. You can find ways to stay active and engaged. Adaptive sports and board and card games make being with your family fun. Remember that you have been coping with an extraordinary circumstance, and making sense of it with the people you cherish and trust is a healing outcome.

The grandparents interviewed for this article agreed that print or braille books are the great equalizers for connecting with their grandchildren under seven or those starting to read.

Sharing a story is fun, teaches literacy skills, and builds new bonds. Whether you and your grandchildren read together with braille, a handheld magnifier, or listen to an audiobook, sharing time and affirming the relationship is the most important part of helping our children and grandchildren to understand how we live and thrive.

Contact us! 

Whether you have technology questions or need someone to listen to, Outlook Enrichment is here to help you with grandparenting with vision loss.

Our peer support groups allow participants to brainstorm solutions to everyday challenges and relate to someone who understands. Have questions? Contact us to learn more about our programs.

Giving Up the Car Keys Because of Aging and Vision Loss

The ability to drive is an integral part of life and independence. Being able to jump into the car anytime and go anywhere provides an incredible freedom of movement.

However, as people age, they can experience hearing and vision impairment. They may also experience a decline in cognition. These health issues can make it unsafe to drive and a struggle to give up the car keys.

According to the CDC, more than 45 million licensed drivers were 65 and older in the United States in 2018. This is a 60% increase since 2000. However, the risk of being injured or killed in a traffic crash increases as people age. In 2019, about 8,000 older adults (aged 65+) were killed in traffic crashes, and more than 250,000 were treated in emergency rooms for crash injuries.

Seniors want to remain active as long as possible and see driving as vital to their independence. Older Driver Safety Awareness Week, December 6-10, underscores the fundamental role that mobility and transportation play in keeping seniors involved in their communities. During this first full week in December, it is suggested seniors living with vision impairment reevaluate their condition to determine if continuing to drive is best. This is also a good time for the loved ones of older drivers to discuss any safety concerns.

Signs it’s time to stop driving.

How do you know when it’s time? Only you know the full answer to this question, but here are ten helpful signs provided by Second Sense, a vision rehabilitation center:

  1. You are nervous behind the wheel.

  2. Your vision slows your reactions.

  3. You have trouble reading street signs.

  4. You’ve had a near mishap because you didn’t see a pedestrian, object, or vehicle.

  5. You get lost easily.

  6. Oncoming lights temporarily blind you.

  7. The sun hurts your eyes, but dark lenses make seeing difficult.

  8. You find it abnormally tricky to see at dusk or dawn.

  9. Your color perception is diminished.

  10. People whom you trust recommend it. (Sometimes they notice things you don’t.)

Vision changes that affect driving.

In addition to the ten signs, discuss vision concerns with your eye doctor. Your doctor can do a comprehensive eye exam and diagnose changes in your vision. Have an eye exam annually to maintain good eye health. Here are some vision changes that come with aging.

  1. Decreased pupil size: Aging reduces pupil size, which means eyes are less responsive to changes in light. Seniors need more ambient light to see clearly. Reduced pupil size can also cause a glare effect in bright sunlight. Glare sensitivity can cause temporary loss of clear vision and impact reaction time when driving.

  2. Vitreous detachment: The eye’s vitreous body is a clear gel between the retina and the lens. Aging causes vitreous detachment, leading to flashes of light, floaters, or spots. While the effects are mostly harmless on foot, they can impact your line of vision behind the wheel.

  3. Presbyopia: Presbyopia affects adults 40 and older. This is a term for difficulty seeing things up close. Safe driving requires reading signs and seeing what’s in front of you to avoid hitting things, park correctly, and complete other essential driving functions.

  4. Low-light vision difficulties: As people enter their 60s, their ability to see clearly in low lighting decreases, making driving at sunset and later harder.

  5. Myopia: Also known as nearsightedness, myopia can be a myopic creep, meaning the condition worsens with age. Myopia can make it difficult to read highway signs or see vehicles and hazards in the distance.

  6. Loss of peripheral vision: Each decade, peripheral vision decreases by up to three degrees. This means that when you reach your 70s, you may have lost peripheral vision by around 20 degrees. This can impact your ability to see the vehicles around you and change lanes safely, especially when obstacles are in blind spots.

  7. Dry eyes: We produce fewer tears as we age, which can lead to dry eyes. Dry eyes can result in burning or stinging sensations. If these come on while driving, it can be distracting and dangerous.

Coping with putting the keys down.

Eye doctors are not the only ones concerned about vision impairment and driving. Family and friends may also express worries. If you are a loved one or friend of a senior who needs to stop driving, approach the topic with love and sensitivity. Schedule time for a full discussion. Share key points of concern and risk while offering encouragement. Provide a list of options for alternative transportation.

If you discover your vision has decreased and driving is unsafe, your life is not over. You can still keep a level of independence and mobility. First, recognize feelings of grief and loss, as the ability to drive is a major part of life. Next, talk to family and friends to share any worries, fears, and concerns. Create a circle of support for this significant life change to help you manage the challenges and produce solutions. Attending Outlook Enrichment’s peer support group is a great place to start and chat with others who share similar experiences.

Use alternative transportation.

Investigate alternative transportation. Research public transit, ride-share programs, senior ride programs, taxi cabs, and rides from friends and family. Requesting a ride is not a sign of helplessness. You can still maintain control and independence by determining your type of transportation and when you want to travel. Helpful resources are available for seniors with vision loss. Outlook Enrichment can help you explore ways to stay mobile and maintain your independence and quality of life.

Navigating the Classroom: A Guide for Blind Parents

Most, if not all, K-12 school districts now use web-based apps and tools in addition to paper materials, from daily assignments to signing permission slips. One might think the apps would provide blind parents more access and bridge the accessibility gap, but not all apps are accessible for people with vision loss.

Web-based learning platforms aren’t new to educational entities. However, the pandemic changed how school districts manage and maintain successful and enriching curricula. Accessibility for people with visual impairments is often overlooked, not only by the app developers but also by the school districts. For the purposes of this article, the term assistive technology (AT) for the visually impaired is a product, equipment, or system that enhances learning, working, and daily living for persons with disabilities.

When to Ask for Accommodations

Classroom apps are great for teachers. Teachers use these apps to send homework, test results, grades, and calendar events like class trips. Teachers still rely on paper materials for students, but many are moving away from them to help the environment. However, when a parent with a visual impairment can’t access a printed notice or an app to access the information on an upcoming class trip, these methods become a serious barrier.

Educating those who are educating children sounds redundant, but it is all about communicating with one another. The one common thread parents and educators stressed is establishing a relationship and staying connected. Don’t be afraid to be the one to reach out. Waiting until the teacher asks for a conference might be too late. Explain your needs right away when you meet with your child’s teacher.

Remember, you have a right to ask for a reasonable accommodation. A straightforward and uncomplicated conversation is an excellent place to begin, followed by a written statement sent via email, which helps parents and teachers work as a team on behalf of a student. Parents like Rebecca Bridges, a blind mother of two sighted boys, ages seven and two, said daily communication via email or text messaging with her son’s kindergarten teacher kept everyone in the loop. She and the teacher found the best time to exchange information and kept to a routine. “Don’t be reluctant to remind your child’s teacher of your needs,” adds Rebecca, “more often than not, a teacher will appreciate it.”

What if this does not work?

If a teacher isn’t acknowledging or collaborating with you to find strategies to help, it’s time for you to do homework. The first step is research. Know your rights.

Acknowledging Resources for Additional Support

The Americans with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act prohibit discrimination against individuals with disabilities and guarantee the right to communication in accessible formats.

Consult experts, such as the National Federation of the Blind, the American Council of the Blind, or the Blind Parent Alliance Facebook group.

Next, follow the chain of command and document everything from phone calls to email.

The steps mentioned here are basic and could be applied to most circumstances related to asking for equal access for yourself or a family member. 

First, identify the barrier. For example, is the teacher not emailing assignments in a format your text-to-speech program can read?  Is there a permission slip or contact card requiring handwriting?  What about a virtual learning platform that isn’t configured for assistive technology for the visually impaired?

Next, find the right person to approach. Begin with the teacher. If this does not result in anything useful, contact the school principal. If this doesn’t result in an action, go to your school district’s office and ask to speak to the commissioner. Finally, if you are blocked or ignored over a period of time and your documentation reflects a lack of attention to your attempts to connect, you may wish to consult with an attorney or organization affiliated with experience in working with a civil rights attorney. 

Remember, you are in charge of your child’s success in the classroom. When it becomes a challenge, advocating for your rights to help your child is the key.  Whenever it is better to work around the barriers and when it makes sense to push through them, find the support and don’t give up. 

“Be kind, be courteous, but be persistent,” says Rebecca.

Outlook Enrichment is a local nonprofit organization with experience helping people with vision loss request accommodations. If you need help asking your child’s school for accommodations to support their education properly or more information about assistive technology for the visually impaired, contact us today to get your questions answered.

Everything You Should Know About Requesting Workplace Accommodations

We all want to work and be productive, but ensuring you have the resources to succeed in the workplace when you have a disability can feel overwhelming. If you’re still applying for jobs or would like to ask your employer for an accommodation, continue reading to learn more about workplace accommodations.

What is a reasonable accommodation?

As you begin thinking about your workplace success, you must first understand what qualifies as a reasonable accommodation.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits discrimination against applicants and employees with disabilities. For example, employers cannot refuse to hire someone who is disabled if they are otherwise qualified. The ADA also requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to employees and applicants.

A reasonable accommodation is an assistance or a change in the job or the workplace allowing an employee with a disability to do a job. Reasonable accommodations generally fall into one of these categories:

Be prepared when you request your accommodation. Be professional and show the employer you have done your homework. Here are some tips for requesting an on-the-job accommodation.

Set the stage.

Demonstrate your ability to be productive. Always produce your best work. Arrive on time or stay connected when you are supposed to if you work at home.

Be helpful and show initiative. Complete your tasks and projects on time. View additional tasks as another way to serve your company. If your employer knows you are willing to work hard, they will respond better to you when you ask for accommodation.

Research.

Know your legal rights as a person with a disability. Articulating your rights under the ADA will give you confidence when you ask for an accommodation.

Consider the following questions as you evaluate your job and work environment:

Find solutions.

Answering the questions above will help you explain the accommodations you need to your employer. For example, maybe you need your company’s IT department to help you enable Windows Magnifier so you can read text on your computer screen. Perhaps you need to be moved to an area with more natural light to decrease eye strain.

The key is to bring some proposed solutions to your employer. Articulating your problem and how you plan to solve it will increase your chances of success. Suggesting ideas will also get the person you are talking to thinking. Maybe someone in your company uses a different screen magnifier, allowing you to quickly try it out to see if it will work for you.

Make your request.

In addition to your current challenges and proposed solutions, you will need a specific description of what is causing your workplace challenge. You do not legally have to disclose your disability under the ADA, but you do need a specific reason for your accommodation request. Be prepared for suggested alternatives, as employers can offer different solutions that would result in the same outcome.

If you make the request in person, follow up with the same information in writing. Be brief. Clearly articulate your reason for your request and explain how the requested accommodation will help at work.

What if your accommodation request is denied?

If your employer denies your accommodation request, you have available options under the ADA.

  1. Learn more about the denial by emailing your employer. This information can help you determine your next steps.

  2. Consider an appeal. You can appeal the decision if your accommodation is reasonable and your employer’s denial is invalid. Some employers have an appeal process. Start with your human resources department or manager.

  3. Engage advocacy or legal services for support. Ideally, asking for more information about the denial and appealing the decision should lead to further engagement in the interactive process under the ADA and a fair outcome. If this does not happen, please get in touch with your state protection and advocacy agency for this assistance.

Outlook Enrichment can help you assess the workplace accommodations you might need. Please feel free to contact us to learn more.

Returning to the Office: Tips for Visually Impaired Employees

The pandemic caused many people with vision loss to work remotely. In the past year, employees successfully learned how to separate home from workspace, manage multiple Zoom calls, and help children with remote learning. But now employers are requesting their staff to come back into the office. This requirement leaves some visually impaired employees worried, stressed out, or at least concerned. According to a survey conducted by Envoy, 66 percent of employees are concerned about returning to the physical office. So, how do you prepare for this adjustment? How comfortable are you sharing close space with your manager and co-workers under COVID? Let’s look at some ways to get ready that can help ease your mind and make a smooth transition.

Communicate your concerns and ask questions.

Whether your supervisor has communicated return to the office guidelines or not, be assertive. Be sure to let them know your concerns and ask questions. Get as many details as possible. How will the return look? What policies are in place to keep staff safe? What are the cleaning procedures? How will social distancing work, especially for the visually impaired? Will they continue to offer adaptive technology resources? The more information and knowledge you have about the transition back to the office, the more empowered you will be and the more you can prepare.

Make sure accommodations are available.

As you prepare to return to the office, be sure the accommodations you require are available. Devices such as magnifiers, braille displays, or screen reading software need to travel with you to perform your job duties. Or, if you were using your personal adaptive technology, be sure your office equipment is ready for your return. You can also chat with management and the IT department to make arrangements.

Check transportation schedules.

While working remotely, your commute was a quick jaunt down the hall or stairs to your workspace. Now, returning to the office means a longer commute. Get reacquainted with your transportation schedule, whether public transit, carpool, or rideshare services. Learn about updates or changes that might have happened while you worked at home. Additionally, do a practice run to be sure you can arrive at work promptly.

Adjust morning and evening routines.

Besides checking the schedule for your work commute, adjust your daily routine. Evaluate your morning rituals. Look at your time to dress, eat breakfast, and prepare to leave the house for work. Determine what time this will be and begin starting your day at this time to ensure a smooth transition. When leaving work at the end of the day, consider the time needed to get home. Alter evening plans, such as dinner and family time.

Dress for success.

Returning to the office might also mean returning to more professional attire. Assess your work clothing in advance to ensure you have the proper outfits to meet the company dress code. Start gathering items and organizing your closet for a polished appearance.

Be kind to yourself.

Lastly, understand that returning to the office during a pandemic can be stressful. So, be kind to yourself and give time for adjustment. Also, know you are not alone and that others feel the same. Honestly, share your feelings with people you trust and know who are supportive. Know that you are learning and this experience is new; mistakes will be made along the way. Take it one day at a time.

Whether you need some assistance with your adaptive technology or have a question about public transportation, Outlook Enrichment is here to help. Contact us with any questions you might have about returning to the office.