FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 13, 2014 Private members bill has potential to make Alberta a leader in vision

health Bill 203 is a step forward in addressing vision assessments and their impact on vision health EDMONTON Bill 203 (Childhood Vision Assessment Act), introduced by MLA Mary Anne Jablonski, is a step forward in addressing the need for children to have their eyes checked by a vision health professional. CNIB, a national voice for blind or partially sighted Canadians, has long advocated for mandatory eye exams for all children before entering the public school system. CNIB research shows that 75% of vision loss can be treated or prevented. Vision health problems in children are much more prevalent than we realize, said John McDonald, executive director and regional vice-president for CNIB Alberta and Northwest Territories. Unfortunately, many of these problems are misdiagnosed, for example, with attention deficit disorder. Given than 80% of a childs learning happens visually, it is important for all children to have their eyes examined by a vision health professional. The Canadian Association of Optometrists states that just 14% of children under the age of six have had an eye exam. As all provinces cover annual eye exams for children under the age of 18, there needs to be raised awareness and a sense of urgency around the vision health of Albertas children. We look forward to working with Ms. Jablonski and our vision health partners to ensure that more Albertans are aware of the importance of getting their eyes examined, added McDonald. We view this as an opportunity to look at a comprehensive vision health strategy, and to position Alberta as a leader on this important issue. For more information or to request an interview, please contact: Jung-Suk Ryu Manager, Communications CNIB Alberta and Northwest Territories cell 780.901.6779 or 403.261.7215 email jung-suk.ryu@cnib.ca About CNIB CNIB is a registered charity, passionately providing community-based support, knowledge and a national voice to ensure Canadians who are blind or partially sighted have the confidence, skills and opportunities to fully participate in life. To learn more, visit cnib.ca or call the toll-free CNIB Helpline at 1-800-563-2642.