In the fall of 2017, the Irlen Syndrome Foundation joined forces with Academic Solutions USA for the Coachella Valley Schools Irlen Screening Project. Ultimately, this project aims to provide screening for Irlen Syndrome, free of charge, for all students enrolled in the Coachella Valley School District. The project kicks off this year with 2nd graders at Coral Mountain Academy participating in the first round of Irlen Screenings.

Irlen Syndrome has been shown to affect up to 46% of children with reading and learning disabilities. The condition, a visual processing problem, can cause a variety of physical and visual symptoms, such as headaches, nausea, eye-strain, issues with attention and concentration, problems with depth perception, and distortions on the printed page or in the environment. Words can move, dance, shimmer, blur, swirl, sparkle, or even disappear, making reading extremely difficult, and the brightness of the white background, or fluorescent lighting can cause debilitating eye-strain and head pain. These symptoms have been shown to be associated with overactive brain function.

When the condition is corrected using colored filters (either as glasses or overlays), brain function normalizes, and symptoms go away. The change in brain and behavior is immediate, and the results are long-lasting.

The condition is not currently identified by standard educational or medical testing, so proper identification of this condition is a top priority of this project. Please join us in providing access to cutting-edge solutions for Irlen Syndrome to all school children in the Coachella Valley School District.