Plano's Annual Report

From our Executive Director  

Dear Supporters:

Thank you for your enduring support of Plano Child Development Center as we reach 50 years after its inception! With support of our 2009 benefit co-chairs, Linda Ford and Natalie Ray, the benefit committee, the Plano Board, staff and my family I am able to successfully execute Plano's mission.  It is with great appreciation that we have as Honorary Chair our own board member, NBC anchor Harry Porterfield. 

 

Since our last benefit, Plano has provided in-office vision testing and vision therapy to 231 patients.  Although Plano's customary fee for vision therapy is significantly less than average, we were able to provide about 35 percent of our patients with a sliding fee scale.  As a result of the funding from Healthcare and Family Services, Plano was able to provide vision therapy services to kid care and Medicaid patients.  Plano was able to provide on-site vision evaluation services to 133 preschoolers and kindergarteners from Englewood Family Center and Educare Center.  Vision exam service was also provided for a new sight, Ancona School.   Plano provided vision screening for nearly 400 participants evaluated at various health fairs.  Community service vision awareness workshops were provided to over 200 persons, many of whom viewed Plano's story on DVD.

 

Plano's "Eye Can Learn" program grant from the Blowitz Ridgeway Foundation continued.  More corporate and foundation support for this comprehensive vision program grant is needed.  Individuals can also assist through participation in the June P. Elzia Vision Therapy Scholarship Fund.

 

Plano continued its pilot vision care information program designed for vision care educators, childcare staff and parents at pre-selected Illinois Department of Human Service Child Care Centers.  After completion of the fourth full year of the program, staff awareness of vision as it relates to learning and behavior increased.  Although an improvement from previous years with 68% of the 194 children who were given primary exams needing follow up vision care, vision health care evaluation should be an integral part of health care for the children.

 

Of the 35% of the students needing glasses, 40% of the prescriptions were significant enough to wear constantly.  Of the functional problems seen, only 13% were amblyopic or strabismic, so the majority were deficits in eye movement control, eye teaming skills, eye-hand coordination, and visual processing and integration skills.  Of the students receiving follow up services, 55% needed vision therapy testing assessments and about 30% received these services.  Of these, 98% were diagnosed with visual skill deficits that could be improved with vision therapy intervention. 

 

This significant increase in follow up was primarily the result of Plano conducting the vision assessments at the sites or at Plano; unfortunately only 18% of these children received vision therapy intervention.  These findings support the need to continue and expand this program with emphasis on parent follow up resulting in more children receiving vision therapy treatment services. 

 

This past year, with the passage of the Illinois Children's Vision Law, the number of children entering kindergarten or starting school for the first time receiving complete eye and vision examinations at Plano increased significantly. 

 

I'm proud to report that by the close of the 2009 calendar year, as a subcontractor, our affiliated corporation VHMS along with the contractor Tropical Optical provided comprehensive vision exams to nearly 19,000 kindergarten through twelth graders at selected Chicago Public Schools and nearly 2,000 in the Berwyn/Cicero Public Schools.  In reviewing many of the students serviced, over 2% needed medical follow-up care, about 8% needed functional or behavioral vision care service and over 80% needed glasses.  Plano looks forward to continue providing the vision therapy assessment testing to the many students referred.

 

Plano was recognized last year for its role in providing vision therapy to Larry Fitzgerald, wide receiver, for the Arizona Cardinals and 2009 Pro-Bowl MVP; while he was in elementary school.  He explained during many pre- and post Super Bowl interviews, that one of the keys to his success was having vision therapy at Plano.  This past August, Larry, grandson of Plano's Co-Founder Dr. Robert L. Johnson, led the kick off for the College of Vision Development (COVD) Children's Vision and Learning month campaign.

 

Plano is happy to report that its' efforts in spreading the word regarding vision and behavior has been heard by the NAACP.  The NAACP resolution acknowledges the role that vision therapy can play in reducing the high rate of recidivism.  The amendments included vision therapy as a focus in prevention and re-entry programs.

 

We are proud of our 2009 Award Recipients: Humanitarian Award, Damon T. Arnold, M.D.; Founder's Award, Peggy A. Montes; and Community Service Award, Daniel Arce.  Our 2009 Most Outstanding Vision Therapy Progress Awardees: Donald Barnes, Daniel Chandler, Zachary Frost, Ariel Holston, Maricela Martinez and Alexander Walker, are truly the apple of our eyes.

 

Finally, I would like to salute my dad, Dr. Robert L. Johnson and Dr. Henry Moore for having the vision 50 years ago so that we can see their dream today.

Dr. Stephanie Johnson-Brown