Parents encouraged to participate in free eye exam program for JK students
For Immediate Release
June 20, 2016
GUELPH, Ontario – Parents in the Upper Grand District School Board are encouraged to book an eye exam for their child this summer, to ensure students are ready to learn in September.
The Ontario Association of Optometrists (OAO) offers a program that provides free glasses to Junior Kindergarten students.
Eye See…Eye Learn (ESEL) reduces barriers to eye care access through the help of local optometrists across Ontario.
Eye exams for Ontario youth ages 0 to 19 are covered under provincial health insurance (OHIP). Under the ESEL program, if your child requires glasses, they are provided with a complimentary pair, donated by Nikon Lenswear and the local optometrists.
The ESEL program was also developed to raise awareness around eye health and its connection to learning. According to the OAO, thousands of children start school each year without ever having an eye exam.
Poor vision can affect students’ learning, hand-eye coordination and even their social development.
The 2016-17 program begins July 1. To be eligible, children must have been born in 2012 and starting school in September. Eye exams must be performed by a participating optometrist.
Many local optometrists across the Upper Grand are participating in the ESEL program. To find a participating optometrist near you, view the map provided by the OAO.
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For more information:
Heather Loney, Communications and Community Engagement Officer
Upper Grand District School Board
519-822-4420 ext.725
[email protected]
Categories: News