Six years ago I met an eye doctor I’ll never forget—Dr. Irving Kernis.
“Dr. K” was a founding honorary board member of Vision First. He was also one of the primary authors of the Vision First form with Dr. Woods, Dr. Mizener, and me.
Dr. Kernis quickly became one of my giants and mentors on this vision mission. He was smart, sharp, and sincere. He took me under his wing as if I was one of his daughters.
Dr. Kernis was proud of his age, “Next year I’ll be 90!” Highly educated and politically correct, I could always count on him for advice and wisdom. I’m sorry to say today is the third anniversary of his passing. We sadly lost Dr. Kernis on September 25, 2005.
I remember “nit picking” the initial drafts of the Vision First form with him in 2002 down to the commas and fonts. A form with meaning and purpose was best. We wanted our form to be great. Oh how I miss him. He was proud of our work and wanted Illinois to be a leader for children’s vision.
Today our Vision First form seeks approval from the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) during the new eye exam law’s rulemaking. DPH proposed the State’s form shall be the only form accepted as proof of an eye exam. The proposed rule is flawed. We need your help.
Here are the benefits of our Vision First form:
• Designed for the parent and teacher.
• Provides education on children’s vision.
• Suitable for recommended and required eye exams.
• Emphasizes a comprehensive eye and vision examination.
• Illustrates eye health, visual acuity, refractive evaluation, and visual efficiency.
• Accompanies prewritten letters for schools.
• Contains a vision screening disclaimer.
• Includes a Reference Page for parents and teachers.
• Represents high standards of eye care.
• Brings meaning and purpose to an eye examination.
We hope you will join us in our quest to have our Vision First form approved as proof of an eye exam. Read my letter of objection and sample letters to DPH here. Petition signatures also count through October 18, 2008 at the Care 2 website here. You, too, can make a difference in the eyes of a child.
Dr. Kernis loved the saying, “Healthy eyes and good vision are a child’s best school supply.”
Let’s ensure all children have the best start for a lifetime of learning. Support the approval of the Vision First form today.
Copyright (c) 2008 Janet Hughes. All rights reserved.
You are a WONDER WOMAN, Janet. A lesser person without your tenacity to hold on when things went wrong, would not have succeeded as you have. I wish I were more like you and able to carry on in adversity. CONGRATULATIONS, JANET!
By: Judy Munn on December 31, 2008
at 8:55 pm
good and very nice in your website…
By: josh on February 11, 2009
at 2:47 am
Janet,
The parents and children of Illinois will be very grateful to you if the new form is approved because fewer vision problems will be missed that affect school performance.
Keep up the great work.
By: Dr. Thomas Poswilko on February 21, 2009
at 8:36 am
[...] NEWS: Today I remember the late Dr. Kernis on his birthday and his quest for our Vision First form for eye [...]
By: Good News & Bad News « Janet’s Journal, a Vision First blog on April 13, 2009
at 11:21 pm
[...] Dr. K’s Quest for the Vision First Form September 25, 2008 “Dr. K” was a founding honorary board member of Vision First. He was also one of the primary authors of the Vision First form with Dr. Floyd Woods, Dr. Floyd Mizener, and me. He quickly became one of my giants and mentors on this vision mission. [...]
By: Vision First form rejected? Doctors win. Children lose. « Janet’s Journal, a Vision First blog on April 18, 2009
at 11:07 pm
[...] Illinois did not have a report form for only eye exams over six years ago, I created one with Dr. Kernis, Dr. Mizener, and Dr. Woods. A form with meaning and purpose was our goal. Download The Most [...]
By: Here’s the deal… “Illinois” Hold’em style! « Janet’s Journal, a Vision First blog on May 19, 2009
at 10:23 pm
[...] Dr. K’s Quest for the Vision First Form September 25, 2008 “Dr. K” was a founding honorary board member of Vision First. He was also one of the primary authors of the Vision First form with Dr. Floyd Woods, Dr. Floyd Mizener, and me. He quickly became one of my giants and mentors on this vision mission. [...]
By: No deal. Final rule flawed. « Janet’s Journal, a Vision First blog on July 31, 2009
at 11:15 pm
[...] Dr. Mizener also led me to his great friends Dr. Larry Vogel, the late Dr. Floyd Woods, and the late Dr. Irving Kernis. [...]
By: Tribute to a Giant « Janet’s Journal, a Vision First blog on August 1, 2010
at 8:38 am