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Re: point 2 The following information was posted on the ASASA list 24th July. I have permission from poster to fwd: Email headed 'Visual Stress' the following response was received from Ian Thompson, DIUS, with respect to an awards officer enquiring about the above: > > "I understand that visual stress (which has also at various times been >known as Irlen Syndrome, Scotopic Sensitivity or Asfedia) is a visual >perception problem that may be assisted by coloured overlays or lenses, etc. There has been some debate whether visual stress is a disability in its own right. As you know DSAs cannot pay the costs of identifying a disability. For the moment the line we have taken is that DSAs cannot be used to pay the costs of screening the general student population for visual stress. > >However, if a student has a specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia, >then a disability has already been formally identified. If the needs >assessor recommends that it would benefit the student to be tested for >visual stress, then the DSAs may be used to pay the cost of identifying the appropriate coloured overlays or lenses as well as the cost the overlays or lens themselves. However, it would be advisable that the student has a full eye test before being assessed for visual stress. But the cost of such an eye test could not be met from the DSAs.' Amanda Kent > > >-----Original Message----- >From: A private list for NADP members. [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On >Behalf Of Pete Lester >Sent: 31 July 2008 13:15 >To: [log in to unmask] >Subject: SLD authorisation of dyslexia tuition and scotopic sensitivity >lenses/overlays > > ........ > >2. Scotopic sensitivity lenses/overlays > >Similarly, I had recommended a TintaVision assessment after discussion >with the same student. > >SFD Darlington have declined recommendation until they "...require >evidence of the full eye test as we need to see the result of the eye >test, before we can agree to the sensitivity test. This is because we >need to establish that eye sight difficulties are associated with the >disability and not a result of poor eyesight." > >I assume that students, even those with 'regular' prescription >spectacles will need to present documentary evidence of their having had >an eye test. >However, I had another student yesterday who had an eye test two years >ago and was found not to need glasses. She had not retained any >receipt, etc. I assume, again, that the SFD policy requires that she >will have to try and acquire a copy of the receipt if the optician keeps >records, or pay for a new eye test in order to get some contemporary >evidence. > > >Pete Lester