When Berea Independent Schools’ Literacy Coach Angela Baker was urged by a colleague to attend an information session on Vision Therapy, she had no idea it would spark a transformative initiative for her entire district. Baker, who once taught high school English, knew firsthand the struggle some students faced with reading comprehension and literacy. However, it wasn’t until this session, led by Dr. Rick Graebe, a behavioral optometrist in Versailles, KY, that she saw a potential solution for these struggles in the form of Vision Therapy.
Vision Therapy is akin to physical therapy but for the eyes, brain, and body. It is specifically designed to address issues that often impede learning, such as visual tracking, focusing, and coordination. At the session, Baker learned that several of Dr. Graebe’s young patients had experienced remarkable improvements in reading skills through Vision Therapy. Alongside a colleague, she enthusiastically engaged with Dr. Graebe, asking countless questions and quickly realizing the potential benefits this approach could bring to their students.
Understanding Vision Therapy’s Impact
Berea Independent Schools serve around 1,300 students from preschool to high school. When Baker heard Dr. Graebe explain how the visual system can affect reading comprehension, she immediately saw the alignment with “Reading Styles,” a program developed by educational expert Marie Carbo. Much like Carbo’s approach, Vision Therapy targets learning barriers, helping students who may struggle with reading fluency and comprehension. Inspired, Baker set her sights on integrating Vision Therapy into her district’s curriculum.
The district successfully secured a competitive grant from the Kentucky Department of Education to fund a three-phase implementation of Vision Therapy. Dr. Graebe’s training helped the educators recognize 30 different indicators of potential vision issues, and now they are equipped to perform initial screenings to determine which students could benefit from further intervention.
The Three Phases of Vision Therapy Integration
The program’s integration within Berea Schools has three structured phases:
- Teacher Training: Dr. Graebe conducted training for Berea’s educators on the 30 visual indicators that may suggest a student is struggling with vision issues. With this knowledge, teachers can perform quick assessments on students to identify potential candidates for Vision Therapy.
- Intervention Staff Training: Next, Dr. Graebe worked with the district’s intervention staff, training them on basic Vision Therapy techniques. These methods involve hands-on activities that help integrate students’ sensory systems through games and non-academic manipulatives.
- Student Treatment: Finally, the most intensive cases are referred directly to Dr. Graebe’s office in Versailles, with the grant covering transportation costs for students who need more advanced therapy. This phase ensures that every child with a vision-related learning obstacle has access to the care they need to thrive academically.
Dr. Graebe expressed his admiration for the commitment shown by the Berea Independent Schools staff, noting their dedication to innovative methods that enrich their students’ learning experiences.
Pioneering a New Path for Student Success
Despite its proven success, Vision Therapy is still considered unconventional in the field of education. However, Baker is enthusiastic about its potential impact and remains unbothered by the method’s unconventional status. As an educator who has always looked for creative solutions to foster student success, she wishes she had encountered Vision Therapy much earlier in her career. She is thrilled about the journey ahead, sharing, “We are so excited to know what we can do for our students.”
Berea Independent Schools’ adoption of Vision Therapy demonstrates their commitment to holistic education, addressing the diverse learning needs of their students. With the expertise of Dr. Graebe and the dedication of their staff, Berea Schools are setting an inspiring example for other districts.
Discover Vision Therapy Near Lexington
For residents in the greater Lexington area, including Versailles, Vision Therapy offers a unique opportunity for students to overcome reading and learning challenges. At the Neuro-Visual Performance Institute, Dr. Rick Graebe FCOVD specializes in pediatric vision care and neuro-optometric rehabilitation to help children unlock their full potential.
Are you curious if Vision Therapy might benefit your child? Call us at 859-879-0089 to schedule an assessment today. With convenient locations in Versailles and Somerset, we serve families across Central and Southern Kentucky.
Credit:
This blog is based on information from Dr. Rick Graebe as compiled and written by John Lynch.