1. Kansas Lions Statewide Low Vision Program (KanLovKids) Kansas State School for the Blind Linda Lawrence, MD Anne S. Nielsen, Ph.D
November 9, 2016

2. Common Administration for Two Schools Superintendent Madeleine Burkindine
Kansas State School for the Blind (KSSB)
Kansas City, Kansas
Established in 1867
Kansas State School for the Deaf (KSD)
Olathe, Kansas
Established in 1861

3. KanLovKids KSSB – Anchor Organization
The KanLovKids Program is a collaboration among:
KSSB – Anchor Organization
Kansas Lions – Kansas Lions
Sight Foundation
Kansas Ophthalmologists (via Dr. Lawrence)
Kansas Optometric Association

4. KanLovKids Specifics Program History and Highlights
Who the children are that we serve?
Who and where the doctors are located?
How clinics are set-up and carried out?
How children, parents, and team members benefit from participating?
What the Components of the Evaluation are
How reports are shared and clinic costs

5. Overview of Participants
Children/Students:
Birth to 21 years old of ALL ABILITIES
Diagnosed with visual impairment –
Legal blindness (20/200) best acuity with best correction or field loss of 20 degrees
Low Vision (20/50) best acuity with best correction
Cortical Visual Impairment/Cerebral Visual Impairment (Functions at the level of blindness)

6. Targeted Participants for Clinics
Low Vision Clinics offered through KSSB since the 1980’s
In 2004, Linda Lawrence, MD and David Lewerenz, OD
Promoted idea of regional services
Advocated for young children and children with complex needs
In 2005, Superintendent Bill Daugherty invited Lions, doctors and educators to meet to design a regionally-based model utilizing the expertise of low vision specialists committed to developing a Community of Practice approach, and facilitated by KSSB

7. Plan for Coordinated Statewide Delivery System Summarized by then Superintendent Bill Daughtery, 2005
Conduct a statewide survey on low vision needs in KS in 2006.
Follow principles of a Community of Practice approach in a continuous improvement process.
Develop a reasonable commonality of fees, forms, evaluation procedures, reportage, and follow-up.
Work together to design and deliver regional training for parents, school personnel and service providers.
Collect and analyze data on the impact of services.
Amend and alter this agreement as appropriate.

8. Highlights of the KanLovKids Program
Kansas MD 17 Lions in 2011 were awarded the first Lion’s SightFirst Grant in the United States for $71, from Lions Clubs International Foundation
This grant provided for the purchase of evidence-based tests and low vision devices for participating doctors in the project, and training for doctors (coaching of new LV doctors), school personnel, and Lions Clubs
Several publications and presentations have been written and delivered about this program
In 2014, the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness, recognized the KanLovKids Program on World Sight Day as their featured program for North America

9. KanLovKids Doctors

10. The Doctors and Their Locations
There are 11 participating doctors in 10 locations
Kansas City: Jeffry Gerson, OD
Lawrence: N. Marie Koederitz, MD
Manhattan: Annie Mosier-Eslit, OD
Salina: Linda Lawrence, MD, & Todd Zerger, OD
Hays/Garden City: Kendall Krug, OD
Wichita: Deena Sandall & Kristina Post, OD
Newton/Wichita: Dajana Komandino, OD
Colby: Mark Wahlmeier, OD
Pittsburg: Shane Kannarr, OD

11. Where are the Doctors Located?

12. Where are the kids on the KS Deaf-Blind Project Child Count (by region)?

13. How are Clinics Set-Up – TVIs, EI. Forms. Locations and Webinars
How are Clinics Set-Up – TVIs, EI? Forms. Locations and Webinars kanlovkids.kssdb.org

14. Where Do the Clinics Occur and How Long are They?

15. The Benefits that the Two Types of Clinics Offer:
Pediatric Low Vision Collaboration Clinic (PLVCC)
Low Vision Evaluation (LVE) Clinic

16. LVE Clinic and its Benefits
KanLovKids LVE
Students with low vision (near, intermediate and at a distance)
Prescribed low vision aids to assist them at school, home, & community (e.g., reading, writing, access to environment)

17. PLVCC Clinic and its Benefits
KanLovKids PLVCC
Young children (Birth to 3 years old) or students (3- 21 years old) with complex learning needs
CVI an ONH
Parents and team are asked to bring:
Questions that they would like answered
Toys, materials, iPads, communication systems for doctor to observe the child’s visual functioning
Position equipment, trays for wheelchairs, etc.,
Doctor answers questions about the child’s eye condition(s), and the doctor and team share how his/her vision is impacting their learning

18. Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC) Evidence-Based Practices for all Ages and Stages
Intended outcome of assessment is to provide:
Suggestions for intervention
Modifications of child/student’s environment and
Referral for additional assessments (medical, Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC) or programs (Kansas Deaf Blind Project, KSDE Deaf-Blind Fund)
Suggestions are applied within the framework of the Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC)
ECC defines concepts and skills that often require specialized instruction with children/students who are blind or visually impaired, in order to compensate for decreased opportunities to learn incidentally by observing others.

19. Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC). Family Priorities
Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC). Family Priorities. Evidence-Based Practices for Age and Stage
These areas are:
Sensory efficiency (all senses, especially vision, touch & auditory)
Independent living (child routines of daily living)
Leisure-recreation (play – likes/dislikes -- motivations)
Self-determination (making choices, problem-solving, control over environment)
Compensatory (play and emergent literacy)
Career education (expectations, chores, exposure to jobs)
Social skills (interactions and communication)
O & M (orientation--understanding where your body is in space & mobility--knowing how to move/travel safely from one place to another) and
Assistive technology (low tech [active learning strategies] to high tech [tablets])

20. Benefits of Functional/Low Vision Evaluations
Teaching Clinics – Medical/Educational professionals interface & share critical information – parents, TVI/COMS, teachers, administrators, early intervention staff
Helps parents and teams to understand the child’s visual abilities, and to provide the right amount of support, at the right time, so the child and family can achieve their outcomes
Stresses the importance of helping each child develop life-long skills that will benefit them as students during their school years, or life after school, and for the rest of their lives

21. What are the Components of a Functional Low Vision Evaluation?
Interview
Questions family/team want answered
Checking for dual-sensory loss
Assessment
Visual Acuity
Loss of Visual Field
Loss of Contrast
Color Vision
Refraction – Plus Lenses
Prescribe Devices--near/intermediate/far
Low Vision Educational/Intervention Plan

22. Interview with Student, Family and Service Providers

23. Observing/Testing How Vision is Impacting Learning

24. Assessments to Test Visual Acuity
For young children or children with complex learning needs.

25. Visual Field Assessment
Check visual fields – using different tools

26. Evaluation of Contrast Sensitivity

27. Color Vision Testing

28. Refraction

29. KanLovKids Number of Children/Students Evaluated
Ten Year Total 1,244
KLSF has given $100,000.00

30. Reports and Costs
Reports are sent out day of evaluation for LVE and PLVCC reports are ed within two weeks from the clinic date
Going rate for a low vision evaluation is $250.00
KanLovKids doctors reduce this fee to $150.00
The Kansas Lions Sight Foundation contributes $ toward each evaluation
School districts are billed for the remaining $50.00 per child/student, and are expected to cover devices recommended
For infants and toddlers, the evaluation fee has been covered in full, either by Lions or grants

31. Evaluation Clinic Data
The 2006 survey returned by 85% of the TVIs in Kansas said that 58% of students with low vision were not getting access to a low vision evaluation
The average number of children who received evaluations before the inception of the KanLovKids program was approximately 40 per year, primarily in one location. Over the last ten years, 1,244 children have been evaluated, with an average of 124 children/students per year. This represents a yearly increase of 210 per cent!
Outcome of Program – Replication in other states/world

32. For More Information . . .
Anne Nielsen at or
Aundrayah Shermer, Outreach Director KSSB at or
Lion Sylvia Reinhardt at or

33. Thank You for Your Interest!

34. Thanks to . . . Director Liliana Mayo, Ph.D., Families and Staff
Ann Sullivan Center of Peru
Lima, Peru
Sara Siegele, OTR/L
Occupational Therapist
Wyandotte County Infant Toddler Services
Kansas City, KS
Megan Cote
Project Specialist for EI/R and Family Engagement
National Center on Deaf-Blindness

35. Publications
Margulis, Eric. (2014). New low vision centers mean hope for rural Kansas. Lions. Lions Clubs International, Sept. 97 (2).
World Sight Day (2014). WSD14 Case: International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness.
Affiliate Focus (2012) KanLovKids state program gives new hope to children with low vision and their families. American Optometric Association News, July, 51
Maino, Joseph (2012,May). There’s No Sense Like Sight. Kansas team creates program for children. Optometric Management, pp 80.
Krug, Kendall & Nielsen, A (2014). Presentation at Envision Conference, St Louis, Mo
Nielsen,A (2012). Kansas State School for the Blind KanLovKids Program. KITS Newsletter, Fall
Several articles in the Kansas State School for the Blind’s Eagles Newsletter and various Kansas Lions District 17-N Newsletters
USA/Canada Forum. (2013). Three Kansas students presented at the USA/Canada Forum to over 2000 Lions to tell them how this program had helped them. September, Overland Park, MO