Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Student Health topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
School nurse says new vision screener is helping special‑education students, urges district to buy more
Summary
Jackie Hamilton, a school nurse at Primus Elementary, told the Upper Darby board the district’s new Welch Allyn Spot Vision Screener has reduced inappropriate referrals in the autism support population and asked the board to fund additional devices so screening can reach more students.
Jackie Hamilton, a school nurse at Primus Elementary, urged the Upper Darby School District to buy additional Welch Allyn Spot Vision Screeners during public comment on May 26, saying the device has already reduced referral rates among students in autism support programs.
Hamilton told the board she had been requesting a spot vision screener for several years and thanked the district and pupil services staff for acquiring one this April. She said the device’s infrared technology and nonverbal screening method has reduced referrals for comprehensive eye exams in her autism support caseload from about 60–70 referrals to about eight, and that the screener helped identify 12 students with previously undetected vision concerns.
"We need more," Hamilton said. "It's very hard to share one among 12,000 students." She argued the screener is especially valuable for nonverbal students and English learners because it requires minimal participation and no language proficiency.
Why it matters: Early identification of vision problems can affect classroom learning and participation. Hamilton framed the devices as a practical, equity-minded tool that reduces unnecessary referrals and helps identify students who need eye care.
What’s next: Hamilton offered to demonstrate the device and asked the district to consider buying more; no purchase decision was announced at the meeting.
