The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Executive Office of Health and Human Services
Department of Public Health
250 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02108-4619

MITT ROMNEY
GOVERNOR
KERRY HEALEY
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
TIMOTHY R. MURPHY
SECRETARY
PAUL J. COTE, JR.
COMMISSIONER	

                                                                            March 14, 2007

									

HOW TO OBTAIN THE PRESCHOOL VISION SCREENING SUPPLIES

On July 15, 2004 Governor Romney signed Chapter 181, a new law requiring that:

“Upon entering kindergarten or within 30 days of the start of the school year, the parent or guardian of each child shall present to school health personnel certification that the child within the previous 12 months has passed a vision screening conducted by personnel approved by the department of public health and trained in vision screening techniques to be developed by the department of public health in consultation with the department of education…For children who fail to pass the vision screening and for children diagnosed with neurodevelopmental delay, proof of a comprehensive eye examination performed by a licensed optometrist or ophthalmologist chosen by the child’s parent or guardian indicating any pertinent diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, recommendation and evidence of follow-up treatment, if necessary, shall be provided.”

Thus, it is now mandated in Massachusetts that:

-	all preschoolers have a vision screening done within 12 months prior to their entry into kindergarten.
-	all children with neurodevelopmental delay, and all children who fail the vision screening,  be referred for a comprehensive eye examination by an ophthalmologist or optometrist.

For consumers wishing to purchase the supplies required to conduct the screening, please feel free to contact the vendors listed below to compare pricing and to obtain the best value and service. Please know that the vendors listed below are not endorsed or certified but simply recognized as a supplier of the materials required to conduct the screening. The MDPH will  update this list from time to time. The vendors are arranged on the list alphabetically.

For vendors who provide the full range of supplies and services for conducting the Preschool Vision Screening in accordance with Massachusetts statutes and regulations who are not listed below, please contact the Massachusetts Department of Public Health by calling Tom Comerford at (617) 624-6022 to be included on the list.    

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health does not endorse any particular vendor but acknowledges that the following vendors can provide the supplies needed to complete the Preschool Vision Screening.  

PRESCHOOL VISION SCREENING

SUPPLIES NEEDED TO COMPLY WITH NEW 2005 GUIDELINES:

1.  MASS VAT DISTANCE SCREENING TEST BOOK -- RECOMMENDED
    10 FOOT DISTANCE SCREENING  --  SPIRAL BOUND BOOK
    ALSO APPROVED  HOTV WALL CHART 10 FOOT  AND LEA SYMBOL WALL CHART 10 FOOT 

AVAILABLE FROM: 
 
BURKE SPECIAL PRODUCTS
92 POPES LANE, PO BOX 405 HINGHAM MA. 02043
TEL--800-873-9800  FAX -781- 749-2692   EMAIL-BURKESP@COMCAST.NET
ORDER NO.---BSPMASSVAT   

MACGILL MAIL ORDER CATALOG
1000 N. LOMBARD RD.
LOMBARD,IL 60148
TEL-800- 323-2841 FAX-800-727-3433 
ORDER NO. SOOO3 E-MAIL: MACGILL@MAGILL.COM
(HOTV WALL CHART 10 FOOT  AND LEA SYMBOL WALL CHART 10 FOOT ONLY)

PRECISION VISION
944 FIRST ST,   LASALLE , IL 61301
TEL-800-772-9211   FAX-815-223-2224 EMAIL--PRECISION-VISION.COM

SCHOOL HEALTH CATOLOG
865 MUIRFIELD DRIVE  
HANOVER PARK,IL 60133
TEL-800-323-1305  FAX-800-235-1305 E-MAIL: DSALVUCCI@SCHOOLHEALTH.COM
ORDER NO. MASSVAT 52523 LEA 52524  
 
2. RANDOM DOT E KIT 

AVAILABLE FROM:
 
BURKE SPECIAL PRODUCTS
92 POPES LANE PO BOX 405 HINGHAM, MA 02043
800-873-9800   FAX-781-749-2692
ORDER NO. BSP-RDE  
 
MACGILL MAIL ORDER CATALOG
1000 N. LOMBARD RD.
LOMBARD,IL 60148
TEL-800- 323-2841 FAX-800-727-3433
ORDER NO. SOOO3 

SCHOOL HEALTH CATOLOG
865 MUIRFIELD DRIVE  
HANOVER PARK,IL 60133
TEL-800-323-1305  FAX-800-235-1305
ORDER NO. H52-305