As a parent, there’s nothing more frustrating than watching your child struggle in school, especially when traditional methods don’t seem to help. This was the case for Sally Wilkerson and her son, Brandon, who faced seemingly insurmountable challenges despite being a bright, high-functioning boy with autism.
Brandon’s Early Struggles in School
From the very beginning, Sally anticipated that school might be difficult for Brandon, who was now a third-grader in Fayette County. Early on, in kindergarten, Brandon began facing obstacles that seemed too daunting for his age. Tasks that should have taken mere minutes, like completing homework, stretched on for hours. He was able to read individual words but struggled deeply with comprehension, and his handwriting was chaotic, refusing to stay within the lines.
To help her son, Sally took advantage of a variety of resources for children with special needs. Brandon worked through an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) at school, participated in speech and occupational therapy, and even underwent a sensory integration program in Cincinnati. He also benefited from Fayette County’s Early Start program. While these efforts improved his reading, they did little to help with his handwriting, leaving both Sally and Brandon frustrated.
A New Approach to Treatment
Desperate for a solution, Sally turned to Dr. Rick Graebe FCOVD, a pediatric eye care specialist in Versailles, after a colleague suggested that Brandon’s difficulties might be linked to his vision. Skeptical at first, Sally couldn’t see the connection between vision and her son’s school struggles. But after an evaluation, Dr. Graebe explained that Brandon’s issues stemmed from his vision system and that they could be corrected.
Dr. Graebe’s vision therapy program focuses on the connection between movement and vision. “Purposeful movement with feedback from a professional trained in Vision Therapy can help students not only gather and process information but also integrate that information with other sensory systems,” he explained. This insight gave Sally hope that things could turn around for Brandon.
A Remarkable Transformation
Brandon began his therapy with 30-minute sessions once a week, but after seeing progress, the sessions were extended to 45 minutes twice a week. Not only did Brandon’s performance improve, but he also began to enjoy the therapy. “He thought the sessions were fun,” Sally recalled. The activities included puzzles, word games, and even something called the “elephant game,” where they would pretend to sway like elephants on the floor.
Within weeks, Brandon’s handwriting showed dramatic improvement. His spelling test results astonished Sally, prompting her to call the school in disbelief. “I couldn’t believe it was Brandon’s,” she said. “I asked the teacher if someone had written the words for him. The letters were perfect.” His reading also improved, with his summer school teacher amazed by the change over a year’s time.
Why Vision Therapy Works
According to Dr. Graebe, Brandon’s success is an example of how treating vision issues can unlock a child’s full potential in school. “For successful vision therapy, the key is sequencing the proper activity at the proper time,” he explained. This approach, along with Dr. Graebe’s extensive experience, has helped countless children like Brandon thrive academically.
Sally is now a firm believer in the benefits of vision therapy, noting that the most successful treatments they’ve tried have often been unconventional. “I have already referred two families to Dr. Graebe,” she shared.
Schedule a Pediatric Eye Exam Near Lexington Today
If your child is struggling in school, it might not just be a learning issue — their vision could be playing a crucial role. At Neuro-Visual Performance Institute, Dr. Rick Graebe FCOVD specializes in pediatric eye care and developmental vision therapy. With locations in Versailles serving the greater Lexington area and Somerset, our practice is one of the few offering specialized services to help children with vision-related learning challenges.
Don’t wait for frustration to build. To schedule an appointment, call us at 859-879-0089. Help your child reach their full potential in school and beyond.
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This blog is based on information from Dr. Rick Graebe as compiled and written by John Lynch.