Amy Kelley

Features Editor

The department of Kinesiology and Health Promotion at Troy University is taking an active role in providing vision care opportunities for the community.
Candice Shaughessy and Gayle Bush, assistant professors in the department, are starting a program in Pike County preschools called Focus First.
Focus First is an Alabama Student Vision Initiative directed at improving preschool children’s vision care and quality of life.
The mission of Focus First is to provide a cost-effective direct response to the vision care problems of children who live in urban and rural poverty in Alabama.
College students in Alabama have screened more than 12,000 children, and more than 1,200 failed the exam.
Troy University became involved with Focus First because of a collaborative effort among colleges in Alabama to bring vision care to children.
Shaughessy’s motor development class and Bush’s class are conducting the Focus First screening.
“The motor development class learns about the growth of a child, so Focus First is important because of tracking, and that is what child development is,” said Shaughessy.
After the students are trained to use the portable photo-refraction imaging equipment, they will screen daycare and preschool children.
“We go out to local preschools and screen children under 5 years of age so that we can reach them before they actually start grade school,” said Shaughessy.
Focus First targets children from ages 6 months to 5 years.
By detecting the eye diseases and disorders early, other problems, such as behavior risks, reduced academic performance and low self-esteem, can be reduced.
“All the preschools we go to are within the Pike County area, and a Focus First representative always goes out with us,” she added.
In order to conduct such a screening, however, the students must have guardian permission.
“Focus First takes care of guardian permission and all the paperwork, and once the screening is complete, the information is sent to Focus First and then they contact the guardian if there is a concern with the child’s vision,” said Shaughessy.
“I am excited that we are involved in this program and at this time because it goes along with the Helen Keller Lecture Series, and I am glad that our students have the opportunity to help in the community,” said Shaughessy.