STATE OF NEW YORK 
EXECUTIVE CHAMBER 
Proclamation

Whereas, for all people, a sound quality of life depends on our overall health and well being – including the function of our five senses – and as sight is especially precious, New Yorkers join to support causes which raise awareness of children’s healthcare with regard to their vision and that serve to remind parents and guardians to include regular eye examinations as part of a child’s routine healthcare; and

Whereas, at this time, children across New York State are preparing for the start of another school year, however, many of them will begin their studies with undiagnosed and untreated vision problems; and

Whereas, research shows that vision disorders are the number one handicapping condition of children, and as many as one out of every four children is at risk for having vision problems that cause difficulty and frustration for them in school; and

Whereas, sight is perhaps the sense we all rely on most and, for children, good vision helps them perform better not only in school where they read, write and work on computers, but in other aspects of their daily lives, from crossing the street, to taking notes at school, to playing in the schoolyard; as children grow, sight enhances their overall life experiences and improves their ability to interact with people and the world outside; and

Whereas, all children deserve the opportunity to learn and achieve their full potential, and efforts to increase public awareness about learning-related vision problems are beneficial to ensuring that young people receive prompt and proper vision treatment needed to improve the quality of their lives in and out of school; and

Whereas, parents, educators, school nurses and all concerned adults are reminded of the critical role vision plays in the learning process, to address external factors that cause damage to children’s vision, and to take steps to diminish the harmful effects that untreated vision problems can have on their ability to read and learn; furthermore, it is fitting for all New Yorkers to join in supporting the worthy goals of this monthlong observance by focusing on children’s eye care by taking them for regular examinations and attending to their vision problems;

Now, Therefore, I, David A. Paterson, Governor of the State of New York, do hereby proclaim August 2009 as

CHILDREN’S VISION AND LEARNING MONTH

in the Empire State.

G i v e n under my hand and the Privy Seal of the State at the Capitol in the City of Albany this twenty-third day of July in the year two thousand nine.

David A. Paterson
Governor