A Life's Mission REALIZED
helping children and saving elephants
It has been my passion to empower all children to reach their highest potential. As a lifelong educator, I have seen too many children suffer due to an inability to read and write because of vision tracking challenges. This occurs when a child’s or adult’s eyes and brains do not work in tandem; causing them to miss letters, skip or jump lines of text or see blurry letters. Our children should have the tools, resources and educational opportunities to succeed, which starts with the critical foundation of being able to read and write.
undiagnosed obstacles
Vision tracking impacts 20-40% of the population, most of which goes undiagnosed because it takes a specialized optometrist to test how the brain and eyes work or do not work together. Most educators are unfamiliar with how these students are impacted on a daily basis in their classrooms; unless the student has a 504 Plan to accommodate their needs, such as large print text, extended time, sitting closer to the smartboard/chalkboard, using a slant-board, etc.
Students with vision tracking difficulties often get labeled as inattentive, disconnected from learning, having Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) or are tested for special education because they struggle to read and may need to look off into the distance in order for their eyes to adjust. Unfortunately, most students with vision tracking issues go undetected and schools do not provide screening for these types of difficulties, nor is the necessary therapy provided. Regrettably, struggling readers are often victims of bullying because they fall behind their peers and may act out as well. Additionally, there is a strong correlation between low literacy rates and juvenile delinquency.
This can all be averted if Congress, legislators, and the Department of Education funds vision tracking screening, therapy, professional development for school personnel as well as staffing to overcome vision barriers.
A LIFE OF EDUCATION
After 30 years in education, with 26 as an administrator, I became more and more convinced that our nation needed to be educated in order for vision tracking and therapy to come to the forefront of what our education system needs to focus funding and resources on. It is one of the best and most impactful ways we can ensure Every Student, Every Day has the ability to read and write in order to succeed.
TAKING ACTION
Elephants have been my love and have impacted me throughout my life but until a few years ago I didn’t know how to directly support them except by donating to large wildlife organizations. In 2013, my sister adopted my first orphaned elephant for me from the David Sheldrick Trust in Africa. I was immediately hooked on learning more about the Trust and figuring out ways to provide additional support to care for my beloved orphaned creatures and to abolish poaching.
These gentle, wise giants are models for how a family unit should be and act. They live in groups (herds) taking care of the young and old by sticking together, protecting each other, helping one another and demonstrating love to the point that these amazing creatures will grieve when one of their herd, or family members has died.
Starting a multifaceted business to support both of my passions became my focus. I am extremely proud to say that I have a number of projects and prototypes developing that will allow me to offer opportunities for others to purchase items that will provide aid for both of my causes. These funds will center on changing the educational system to enable every student to read and write as well as fund the care of elephants that are still in jeopardy of becoming extinct.
HELP MAKE A DIFFERENCE
No matter how large or small the contribution or purchase, we can all work collectively to change the lives of our children, while also supporting elephant rescue organizations.
With love, kindness and compassion for all living beings,
President & Founder – ElephantVision
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