Vision Education Programs
The goal of vision education is to promote eye health and reinforce the importance of regular eye exams. As a Unite For Sight volunteer, you should strongly urge and motivate those in the community to receive regular eye exams by an eye doctor, and it is your role to inform them of the resources (i.e. EyeCare America and VisionUSA) that will enable them to receive eye care even if they do not have health insurance.
Order Free Brochures About Eye Diseases
You can order free brochures about eye diseases from the National Eye Institute. Be sure that you notify them that you are a Unite For Sight chapter ordering the brochures so that you receive them free of charge.
Adult Education Programs
- Distribute National Eye Institute Brochures
- Make Power Point Presentations at community centers about eye diseases, the importance of regular eye exams, and then provide vision screenings and match those screened with free health coverage programs (i.e. Eyecare America and VisionUSA)
- Bring educational material to local grocery stores, pharmacies, flu clinics, nursing homes, blood drives, and health fairs, and ask if the brochures can be made available to shoppers
(check with the grocery stores and pharmacies on a monthly basis to see if they need you to replenish their supply of materials)
- National Eye Institute Brochures
- Print information from EyeCare America and VisionUSA websites about available free health coverage programs
- Collaborate with flu clinics to provide vision screenings and eye health education programs
- Collaborate with local blood drives to provide vision screenings and eye health education programs
- Speak at school PTA meetings about Unite for Sight and how eye education can be implemented at home and in the classroom
- Speak at school faculty meetings about implementing eye health education in their classroom
- Provide a mini course on eye health and global eye care needs at an afterschool event for children
- Contact local restaurants and stores to inquire about including an eye health message on receipts and on takeout food containers. For example, "Most blindness is preventable. Many eye diseases are gradual and not noticable until it is too late. When was the last time you had an eye exam? www.uniteforsight.org"
- Set up an exhibit about eye health at a local library
- Rent a costume, or design a mascot costume of an eye, and then pass out National Eye Institute Brochures and information about EyeCare America and VisionUSA.
Children’s Education Programs
- Educate children about eye anatomy and eye health through engaging games and presentations
- Pin the carrot on the pupil game ( http://www.uniteforsight.org/pincarrot.php) to reinforce that vitamin A is needed for the eyes
- Educational coloring sheets that emphasize eye anatomy and eye health
- Trivia game with prizes
- Create a poster with the parts of the eye and have different kids color in parts of the eye.
Educational Topics
- Eye Anatomy and how the eye works
- Eye protection during sports
- Importance of using sunglasses and what types to use
- Helpful tips when planning a program for kids:
- Focus on engaging the kids so they don’t become bored or restless (The program should be educational and fun!)
- Bring many volunteers so that each kid can interact closely with a chapter volunteer
- Avoid using many technical words that children will be less likely to recognize or understang
- Bring props that kids can interact with.
Resources for Working with Children
- Vision Program for Grades 4-8 http://www.nei.nih.gov/education/visionschool/schintro/VISIONSchoolProgram.pdf
- Activity Book recommended for ages 6 to 8 http://www.nei.nih.gov/activitybooks/pdf/activityguide6to8full.pdf
- Wild About Health Vision Activity book recommended for ages 9-12 http://www.nei.nih.gov/activitybooks/pdf/BWactivityguide9to12full.pdf
- Eye facts for Children Poster-Healthy Vision Day http://www.nei.nih.gov/health/NEI_Calendar.pdf
- Sports and the importance of Eye Care-Gear Up! http://isee.nei.nih.gov/pdf/HVM_Calendar_tagged.pdf