Lectures
Lecture Topics
You can choose from a variety of topics, or if you want a lecture on a topic you don’t see below, please let us know:
- Vision and Learning Connection
- Hidden Vision Problems Block Learning
- Visual Perceptual and Visual Information Processing Problems:
What are they? What can be done to help?
- Tracking Problems: The Visual Connection
- How Can a Bright Child Struggle with Reading?
Would you like to have Dr. Cantwell speak at your next meeting?
Dr. Cantwell gladly provides informative and interactive lectures to PTA meetings, educational or other community groups. The lectures address the vision and learning connection — he explains clearly how a child’s eyes work, along with how and why various vision problems can impact a child in and out of the classroom. At the end of each lecture, he likes to allow ample time for a question and answer session. Because Dr. Cantwell understands how undiagnosed vision problems can impact not only the children, but the entire family, he offers these lectures at no charge.
In-Services:
Virginia was one of the first states in the US to recognize the critical link between vision and learning by passing a resolution in 1995, where it resolved:
“That the Virginia PTA/PTSA through its local units and councils provide education to its members regarding the need for comprehensive learning-related visual examinations before entrance to kindergarten and at frequent intervals through 10th grade”
Subsequently, the National PTA passed a resolution in 1999, resolving:
“That the National PTA, through its constituent organizations, provide information to educate members, educators, administrators, public health officials and the public at large about learning-related visual problems and the need for more comprehensive visual skill tests in school vision screening programs performed by qualified and trained personnel; and be it further resolved, that National PTA, through its constituent organizations, urge schools to include in their vision screening programs tests for learning-related visual skills necessary for success in the classroom.”
In 2005, the National PTA updated their position statement on the “Elements of Comprehensive Health Programs” to include:
“National PTA recognizes that:
- Early diagnosis and treatment of children’s vision problems are necessary components to school readiness and academic learning; and that vision screening is not a substitute for a complete eye and vision evaluation by an eye doctor. Comprehensive eye and vision examinations by an optometrist or ophthalmologist are important for all children first entering school and regularly throughout their school-aged years to ensure healthy eyes and adequate vision skills essential for successful academic achievement…”
Additionally, the position statement goes on to state:
“Health Curriculum that is comprehensive for all students preschool through 12th grade, sequentially developed, age and culturally appropriate, reflects current health issues of the community, and is taught by educators qualified to present health instruction. The curriculum and instruction program should include the following content areas: … eye and vision health…”
In support of the National PTA, Dr. Cantwell provides in-service education to schools, both public and private, school districts, tutoring groups, or other education/therapy professional groups at a very reasonable fee. He will tailor the in-service to the needs of the requesting school or group, providing the educators with the information and tools they are looking for to best meet the needs of their students. In-services can be delivered on location, or at our office in Ashburn, Virginia.
For more information or to schedule a lecture or in-service, call Christina at our Ashburn location: (703) 729-3545