From Carla, after the first OPSIS course in South Africa.

Here are three things I got from you.

1. A different way of thinking and seeing not just the patients, but the world! I will never be the same again!

2. Structure to apply all the knowledge, even though we still don’t know everything, and still need to learn and read, we can start implementing this immediately, and start to change kids and people’s lives!

3. A good understanding of how the visual system really works and how ever person uses it to cope in his own environment. And because we understand that now, we understand the reason for the therapy better, and then we can apply therapy better! And because of this knowledge, we have confidence to actually apply it, and start helping the patients, who in the past seemed impossible!

From Leensie, after the first OPSIS course in South Africa.

I don’t think it is possible to put into written words or any spoken language the gratitude I feel for your and Rob’s willingness to come all the way to South Africa to teach our small group of knowledge hungry students.

I would like to thank you for not only sharing your years of knowledge and experience (with a wicked sense of humour I absolutely adore), but most of all reminding me to not let the world around us harden our view of said world and the people we share it with. The way in which you teach and work with the people around you I can only describe as an art inspired by grace.

Thank you for inspiring me as a student, optometry but also as a woman. I am now much more conscious not only of what I say to patients, but how I say it. May I stay as humble on my journey of enlightenment and always act out of love.

Thank you.

Dr. Lorelei Zeiler, Behavioral Optometrist, Caledonia, Ontario

The Transformation of the Boy Who Hated to Read

Right after my therapist and I finished the OPSIS course, we had a 10 year old boy who lives in a French-speaking home who goes to a French school. He spoke perfect English, but he didn’t want to read at all in either language. When I tested him, he clearly wasn’t enjoying it, and as he left the exam room he literally threw the test card at me!

But after he graduated vision therapy, he was staying up late, hiding under his covers reading chapter books. If that isn’t life-altering for him and his parents, I don’t know what is. OPSIS is creating a community of professionals who know more than just how to do behavioral optometry, they also understand WHY we do it this way.

The WHY makes all the difference.

Cassie Handsaeme, Vision Therapist, Caledonia, Ontario

One of the worst things that happened to me ended up being one of the best things in my life. A bad car accident gave me a concussion, and not to get all emotional about it, but De. Zeiler and behavioral optometry saved my life. While going through my therapy I could see the changes. At the end of it I was like, “How can I go to school and learn about vision therapy?”

After graduating from therapy with her behavioral optometrist, Dr. Lorelei Zeiler, Cassie trained to become a Vision Therapist and went back to work alongside Dr. Z. They attended the OPSIS Course together. Cassie is preparing to apply to optometry school so she can practice VT.

Our education from OPSIS gave us the confidence to get the word out into the community.