My Nonprofit Reviews

joang
Review for Gemstone Foundation, Tarzana, CA, USA
Do You Know?
• 25% of children have difficulty coordinating their eyes for reading. They have what we call “Eyes in Conflict”.
• Eyeglasses can’t help and the standard acuity tests (20/20 vision) do not detect the problem.
• If the child is a poor reader the probability they have Eyes in Conflict rises to 50%
• 50 – 62% of children in Juvenile Delinquent Centers have Eyes in Conflict. The children with this problem usually drop out of school and get into trouble.
Gemstone Foundation can:
• Identify students with Eyes in Conflict with a clinically validated symptom survey for $1 per student.
• Provide visual skill training for as low as $199 per student, using 3D computer game technology.
• Get results that help students:
- 80% of students no longer have Eyes in Conflict
- 50% of students improve their reading fluency, many by several grade levels
Who has used our programs?
• LA Unified, John Swett Unified, LA County Probation, LA Sheriff; plus schools in Wisconsin, Florida, Indiana, Illinois, Oakland, Delano, Sacramento, San Jose, Castro Valley, and Richmond.
• Testimonials are available from: Principals from Ann St. Elementary, Plummer Elementary, Gardner St. Elementary, Camp David Gonzales, Rodeo Hills Elementary, Hales Corners Elementary, Ralph Bunche Academy, many others.
What are the results?
• Reading scores go up
- Elementary school: Fluency increased by 25% in words read correctly per minute – one student went from 15 words per minute (that’s one correct word every 4 seconds) to 56 (that’s one per second—enough to get the brain to make the connection between words)
- Middle school: Fluency increased significantly more than students who did not participate
- High school: Scores on standardized tests improved by 1 to 3 grade levels
- Juvenile offenders: Scores on tests of tracking and fluency improved by 50% or more
- Special Education students: Reading improved by 1 to 4 grade levels—a 7th grader went from reading 3rd grade level to reading 7th grade at the end of the program
• Attitude changes
- Teachers report that the student’s attitude toward learning and their self esteem greatly improved. We believe this happens because the student felt something was wrong or they felt they were dumb, and could not perform with their fellow classmates. Once reading becomes easier, they perform better and feel equal with their peers and begin to excel in all areas.
- Sports performance also can improve. Keeping your eye on the ball is essential – and is directly related to the visual skills of tracking, convergence, and focusing – which is what we train the eyes and brain to do better.
• Why does this approach work?
- Because it improves the efficiency of information transfer from the outside world (like books or computer screens or ball games) to the brain. It makes it easier for the brain to function and learn.
- Because it detects and corrects a problem that is fundamentally physical, not cognitive or mental.
- Because once that barrier is removed – people are finally able to use their vision at its optimal level.
- Because when people have optimum vision – they are able to perform better in all aspects of life.
- Because when the eyes and brain are working together, amazing productive lives can be lived.
Training Eyes = Changing Lives
Please Donate and You Can Change a Life!
More Feedback
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
Yes I have experienced what it is like to live with a vision problem called Divergence Insufficiency, it causes such extreme fatigue while reading that it nearly makes it impossible to read. I was 46 years old when I fianlly was properly screened and recieved proper eye exercise treatments that CORRECTED my vision problem and I can now read for hours and hours. Vision Problems are mostly undedtected, the typical school screenings only check for basic 20/20 vision health and do not detect these problems.
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
The mission is well defined and the technology that is used is state of the art. There are no changes in the structure that are necessary at this time. We just need to gain more support.