Optometric Extension Program Foundation Inc

The Optometric Extension Program Foundation (OEPF)* has partnered with the Department of Communication at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah to bring Jillian’s Story: How Vision Therapy Changed My Daughter’s Life to campus on March 22nd.  This speaker event will feature Jillian and Robin Benoit—authors of Jillian’s Story: How Vision Therapy Changed My Daughter’s Life. 

“Vision therapy has made such a huge difference for me. I used to get so frustrated at school. Now I love it! It's so much easier to learn when you can see. I even love math and I never thought I'd say that. I can read any book I want, even a thick one like Harry Potter. Vision therapy really changed my world and I'm so happy to share my story. I hope our book helps anyone with vision problems to have a happier life.”

~Jillian Benoit, age 12

I am writing for support for this event on behalf of Jillian Benoit and the many children like Jillian who face undiagnosed vision problems that lead to difficulties in the classroom, on the playing field, and with life’s daily activities.  Jillian's life was dramatically changed through the diagnosis and remediation of her visual problem. It is Jillian’s wish to help other children who are living with vision challenges by showing them the wonders of vision therapy. In order to do this, Jillian and her mother, Robin, wrote the book Jillian’s Story: How Vision Therapy Changed My Daughter’s Life. Their book offers a deeply personal account of the wonders of vision therapy, along with life-changing information for parents, teachers, and medical professionals.

"The sad thing is that kids don’t know they have vision problems. They struggle in school and think they're stupid. Wrong!"  ~Jillian

In addition to Utah Vally University, local optometrist Dr. Robin Price of Pleasant Grove, Utah has offered his support and participation in this event. Dr. Price and his partner, Dr. Jarrod Davies, offer vision therapy services in their practice. They also have pledged promotional support from a local foundation, “Find Your Focus” which works to improve vision screenings in local schools. And, members of the Brigham Young University Pre-Optometry Club will be attending the event and assisting with local promotion.

Public promotion of the event will go out to local schools, libraries, and optometry practices in addition to on-campus promotion at BYU and UVU. The target audience for this event will be local parents, educators, our future educators (university students), faculty, and optometrists.

There are several opportunities for you to help bring Jillian’s Story to our community. We specifically are seeking funds or donation of services to cover the following expenses:

• Speaker travel expenses
• Audience refreshments
• Printing costs for posters and fliers to be distributed on campuses and throughout the Salt Lake and Utah Valley communities

We appreciate any and all support you are able to provide in order to make this event possible. Your name will be listed as a sponsor for this event in our promotional materials handed out at the event.