ISF is excited to kick off our summer fundraising campaign! August 1st is the official start to the 30-day fundraising campaign, in conjunction with the Irlen Parent Connection Facebook Group. We have a lofty $10,000 goal, and every cent goes towards Irlen scholarships for individuals from low-income families. As you know, Irlen Spectral Filters change lives, and we’re making sure everyone who needs Irlen Spectral Filters can get them.
Help us reach our $10,000 goal by making a donation, sharing the link with others, or, joining our team by clicking the red button at the bottom of the fundraiser page that says “Create Your Own Fundraiser Page”, so that you can customize it with your own story, thoughts, information, etc. to send to the people you know.
On November 7, Dr. Jeri LaVigne flew from Atlanta, GA to Ghana on behalf of the ISF Ghana Project to train five members of CLED (Campaign For Learning Disabilities) how to screen for Irlen Syndrome. Dr. Jeri and her team from CLED accomplished a lot during her week-long stay. Not only did they complete their Irlen training, but they met with the country’s educational policy makers, the Department of Education and the Special Education Division of the National Assessment and Resources Center. They screened children at multiple schools during the training week, and CLED director, Padmore Quansah and his team continued school screenings immediately following Dr. Jeri’s departure from Ghana. This outstanding team of Irlen screeners is taking the country by storm, and we look forward to hearing how implementing Irlen screening country-wide changes educational success of the children in Ghana.
Below are Dr. Jeri’s daily logs from the trip – enjoy!
November 8
This is Moses, one of the CLED employees and a soon to be Irlen Screener. We walked from the office to his house tonight through town, Kasoa. We had dinner at his house. His mom made Ampesi with fresh yams and plantains from the yard. And yes, that’s a mango tree.
November 9
We walk everywhere. And then if we have a long way to go, we hire a taxi. Today we went to the Dept. Of Education to get permission to work in the schools.
Sometimes we have electricity and sometimes we don’t. Today we have to improvise and move the training outside under the mango tree because it’s too hot inside with no fan.
This morning we took a mini bus and went to screen students at another elementary school, Opeikuma St. Peter’s Angelican School. Then we went to the Dept. Of Education again to give a presentation and ask for their support so Padmore and his team at CLED can continue to screen and assist children in the schools. All of the 15 administrators wanted to be screened!
November 14
The Special Education Division of the National Assessment and Resources Center heard about what we have been doing in the schools and asked us to come to Accra today to present the Irlen Method and our findings so far. It was a wonderful experience and they were excited to learn a new way to help their children that struggle. I’m not sure what I was expecting exactly for their national offices in the Capital, but think twice before you complain about your work space.
November 15
I would like to introduce you to the first Ghanian Certified Irlen Screeners. Padmore Quansah, Nicholas Aidoo, Akpene Genevieve Dagadu, Anthony Mengah Nsenyiane, and Moses Dickson from CLED – Campaign for Learning Disabilities. We wish them much success! Ayekooo (Well done)
The Irlen Syndrome Foundation’s Board of Directors and their invited guests kicked off Irlen Syndrome Awareness Week on Saturday, October 14th with a night of painting to raise money for scholarships for Irlen testing. Guests were treated to food and drinks generously donated by Thrive Kitchen LA, and heard personal testimony from Irlen Spectral Filter wearers, including retired Naval officer and brain injury client, Jeff Doran, before participating in the evening’s main event – a painting class led by children’s book illustrator, Christina Forshay.
Board President, Sandra Tosta, shared updates on the organization’s current projects and announced the kick-off of the foundation’s $10,000 scholarship campaign. The evening increased awareness of Irlen Syndrome among the local community, and successfully raise $2,500 for ISF scholarships to assist low-income families in receiving Irlen testing and Spectral Filters.
[caption id="attachment_908" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]Retired Naval Officer, Jeff Doran, shares his personal Irlen story[/caption]
Check out some of the creative artwork inspired by the night’s theme “Cool Cat,” sporting all different colored Irlen Spectral Filters!
Help us reach our $10,000 scholarship goal with your $25 pledge today!
ISF SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS: WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
In this post, we catch up with some of our past scholarship recipients to see how receiving Irlen Spectral Filters has changed their lives.
It’s been a busy and rewarding year for the Irlen Syndrome Foundation! We’ve awarded more than 30 scholarships, but we are receiving more requests for aid than we are able to support. We recently launched the Individual Aid Scholarship Campaign, to raise $10,000 to fulfill these requests and double the number of people we can help this year. We’re excited to share the following updates on six of our recent scholarship recipients. See how your gift can change the life of someone with Irlen Syndrome.
Traumatic brain injury can cause some of the most severe symptoms of Irlen Syndrome. Here’s Mikayla’s story…
Mikayla “Mac” has suffered from multiple TBIs incurred over the 10 years she worked as a law enforcement officer, both on the job and during recreational activities. She has suffered with light sensitivity, migraines, vertigo, and seizures triggered from flashing lights. These symptoms were so severe, that she was unable to drive and confined herself to dim light indoors so as to mitigate the symptoms. Fortunately, she was able to get assessed and fitted for customized Irlen Spectral Filters with an Irlen Foundation Individual Aid Scholarship. After only a few weeks, she reported that her comfort and functioning level had immediately improved. She reported less fatigue and exhaustion, and is elated that she is finally able to leave her house and spend more time outdoors. All of her frustration and tenseness that resulted from being cooped up all day indoors has disappeared; so much so that her physical therapist noticed a difference right away. As of May 2017, she said that she still wears them all the time and couldn’t imagine life without them. She is now referring people for Irlen Spectral Filters who are in similar situations. She sends her thanks from Clark, Oregon to all of those who have donated to the Irlen Individual Aid Scholarship program as well as those who continue to help the Irlen Syndrome Foundation spread awareness of Irlen Syndrome!
Research has shown 80% of incarcerated adults suffer from severe Irlen Syndrome. By helping youth in the juvenile justice system, we’re making sure they don’t enter the adult prison population. Here’s an update from the Marion County Juvenile Justice Department in Oregon…
The following story of one juvenile justice department scholarship recipient reflects the significant challenges that Irlen Syndrome can pose to future success, if left unaddressed. Due to strict confidentiality required by the juvenile justice system, any personally identifying information for this youth has been removed from the testimonial excerpts below, provided by both the scholarship recipient, as well as her educational advocate in the juvenile justice system.
Recipient A is a 17 year old female in the Juvenile Justice System. She lives with her mother and a sibling, and they are on public assistance. She is the only one in the family that works, holding two jobs that equate to 40 hours per week. She participates in a multitude of appointments and has voluntarily engaged in a rigorous program, which will expunge her record, if it is completed successfully. Her goal is to graduate from high school, enter the military, and pursue a career in engineering. However, her difficulties with reading and physical symptoms caused by bright lighting are really holding her back. Her primary symptoms of discomfort included experiencing headaches and a strong sensitivity to fluorescent and bright lighting. As a result, she reported having frequent headaches. When reading, she loses her place, becomes distracted, uses a marker, and has poor comprehension; however, she still earned grades high enough to qualify for honor level coursework. Unfortunately, she failed a reading entrance exam for a particular school program. Prior to discovering her symptoms, her educational advocate was perplexed as to why she earned good grades yet had failed her reading entrance exam. It didn’t make sense, that is, until she reported the severity of her symptoms resulting from Irlen Syndrome. She was provided a peach colored overlay, which she used daily for reading, both with books and with a computer screen. She earned an “A” in a grade-level English literature course. Her educational advocate, seeing the massive improvement in her reading ability, spoke with her and her guardian about Irlen testing and Irlen Spectral Filters. Both were supportive and enthusiastic, as she reported that the use of the overlay has a huge impact in terms of alleviating her reading discomfort and difficulties.
After receiving her Irlen Spectral Filters, Recipient A provided the following update on her progress, “Since I have been wearing my glasses, I don’t get headaches. My eyes don’t hurt. They have helped me feel more comfortable when I am outside or around fluorescent lights. Before I got my glasses, I would have to reread lines. I would also lose my place. Now I don’t have those problems.”
It is important that our veterans return home with full functionality so that they can make the most of the freedoms and opportunities they fought to preserve. Some return home suffering from Irlen-related symptoms as a result of traumatic brain injuries…
Justin, a disabled military veteran, suffered from anxiety and experienced Irlen Syndrome symptoms when he tried to read or was in a bright environment. He was recommended for the Individual Aid Scholarship by his local diagnostician, and, after receiving it, was amazed by the results.
Justin: “I am feeling calmer, more focused, lights don’t bother me in stores, I can read faster, process faster, balance is good, symptoms come back instantly without filters, can now use a cell phone and computer – was unable to for years because the screen bothers me.”
Justin now wants to go back to school at a technical college!
Classroom environments that contain bright fluorescent lights can exacerbate Irlen Syndrome Symptoms, and make school unbearable…
Moises suffered from extreme light sensitivity and migraines that caused him to miss 95 days of school over the course of 2 years. He constantly struggled in the classroom and was unable to concentrate for long periods of time without breaks. As a result, he fell behind and wasn’t reading at his own grade level. He would regularly take 30-45 minutes breaks when trying to complete school work, in an effort get his symptoms to go away. What should have taken him 1 hour to finish ended up taking him about double the time to complete. Whenever he was asked a question in class, he would walk out of the classroom frustrated and anxious. After being awarded an ISF Scholarship and receiving customized Irlen Spectral Filters, he is finally able to concentrate for longer periods of time and has gained the confidence to articulate his thoughts and participate in classroom discussions!
Leo, an 18 year old student, moved to Washington to support his struggling family. In a stroke of bad luck, he was assaulted. His brain was damaged in the incident and he became partially paralyzed. After his brain injury, he started showing signs of Irlen Syndrome…
After he recovered from his medical treatments and injuries, Leo tried to go back to school. However, whenever he tried to read textbooks, whiteboards, and other reading materials, his eyes started watering, headaches nagged him incessantly, and he was unable to stay focused for long periods of time. Luckily, two Irlen Screeners worked at his college and provided him with colored overlays. While the overlays provided some relief, they weren’t enough. He still reported dizziness, nauseousness, and overall fatigue when exposed to bright lights. He was recommended for the Individual Aid Scholarship, so he could get Irlen Spectral Filters to protecting his brain from this constant environmental stressor.
Since receiving his Irlen Spectral Filters, Leo reports that his filters “make me happy!” He wears them all day and can participate in life without distortions, getting headaches or becoming dizzy. He is re-enrolling in fall quarter at RTC and wants to obtain an Administrative Assistant Degree within one year. In the classroom, he is no longer bothered by fluorescent lights or the white board, and he is able to read and comprehend with comfort.
Seeing print distortions is also a symptom of Irlen Syndrome. In Nayla’s case, they kept her from continuing her education…
Nayla suffered from seeing print distortions both on paper and in her everyday environment. She would see after images, pulsating lights, and what she referred to as a “visual snow.” She also suffered from headaches/migraines, sleepiness/fatigue, dizziness, and slight nausea from reading. When Irlen Diagnosticians discovered the severity of her symptoms, they all wondered how she was able to graduate high school. She tried a semester of college, but ultimately found it too hard. She expressed that if the Irlen Spectral Filters helped, her ultimate goal would be to return to college and pursue a degree in social work. Here is what she has to say after receiving the Individual Aid Scholarship and her Irlen Spectral Filters:
“These glasses are really helping!! I have found a nice balance. I can’t read with them at all but I found that wearing them throughout the day and around fluoroscent lighting have calmed my eyes enough that I’ve managed to read at night with a dim lighting, sans glasses. I went through 80 pages straight of a novel the other night! I can’t tell you how happy I am and how much it has helped my life already.
Thank goodness I managed to find you! I am forever grateful.
I’ve even been able to return to work helping my father at his store, a help he greatly needed. We discovered that using lamps in the office instead of the previous harsh lighting has made a big difference in my overall comfort and ability to work. I know it seems obvious but I just wasn’t even previously really sure of myself enough to ask for help, you know? So, not only have the glasses helped but also your sage advices. I even feel good enough to go back to school. There’s a great program here for interpretation studies that I am in the process of applying to.
I feel like a pair with the first layer, the dark “Irlen person” lens, one shade lighter would be perfect for every day office use. I am interested in returning to Portland or Salem for a follow up if that is still possible.
So, one final Thank you! The work you/the foundation are doing really does improve lives.
Best regards,
Nayla”
We want to thank everyone that has donated to the effort and continues to raise awareness of this little-known condition. There are millions of other people all around the world that are in similar situations, and it is due to the generosity of people all over the world that we are able to step in and help those that need it the most.
From the Desk of Professor Adam Anderson, Director of the Affect and Cognition Lab
October 13, 2016
“Color alters brain activity in ways that extend well beyond color perception to influence brain regions supporting perception, thought, language, and emotion.”
Study #1: How Color Affects Brain Activity
We have just finished our first study on color and brain activity. In our efforts to understand the role of color on brain function, we examined how different colors influence brain activity patterns. Well beyond color perception, we found colors have distinct roles not only in altering visual system activity, including the primary visual cortex and the thalamus, but also higher level regions including the parahippocampal gyrus (involved in representing the environment) and the middle temporal gyrus (involved in language processing and motion perception). We also found colors influence limbic regions involved in emotions and feelings, including the anterior insula (emotional body states) and the ventral tegmental area (VTA, a region that produces Dopamine, a neurochemical that influences reward processing and cognition throughout the cortex). In sum, color alters brain activity in ways that extend well beyond color perception to influence brain regions supporting perception, thought, language and emotion. Although preliminary, such results provide foundational support for color filters as means to alter brain activity patterns in focal brain regions, and the functions these regions support. These results lay the foundational neuroscience groundwork for future studies looking specifically at Irlen Spectral Filters.
Study #2: How Color Influences Perception, Cognition, and Emotion: Irlen as a Brain-Based Condition
In our current study, we are building upon our earlier findings and undertaking more focused examinations of the influence of color on how information from the eye is represented in the brain, and the transmission of that information to the higher order portions of the brain that support perception, cognition (e.g., language and thought), and emotion. This study also assesses how colors influence brain activity to alter performance on tasks, including perceptual, cognitive and affective judgments. Results from this research will shed light on the neural mechanisms by which color can modulate brain activity and alter brain function. This study also examines the presence of Irlen Syndrome symptoms in the population at large, their neural bases, and whether these patterns of neural dysregulation are altered by color. These findings should help establish how, rather than a retinal visual disorder, Irlen Syndrome arises from dysregulated brain networks, with different brain regions supporting specific symptoms.
Help us support research that helps us better understand Irlen Syndrome, visit www.irlensyndrome.org and pledge your support today. The Irlen Syndrome Foundation is a 501(3)(c) charity organization. Donations are tax deductible. Our federal tax ID is 33-0409023.
Retired Naval Officer, Jeff Doran, shares his personal Irlen story[/caption]
