Irlen Syndrome Foundation Pilot School
Helping students see the page clearly, right here on campus
Pathway School is the pilot school for the Irlen Syndrome Foundation Pilot Program. A member of our staff is now trained and certified to screen students for Irlen Syndrome, so families can find answers without leaving campus.
What is Irlen Syndrome?
Irlen Syndrome is a difference in how the brain processes light. For some children, words on a page can seem to move, blur, or swirl, and reading can bring on eye strain, headaches, or tiredness.
Because it is about how the brain handles visual information, Irlen Syndrome does not show up on a standard eye exam. A child can have 20/20 vision and still find reading uncomfortable.
The good news: simple tools like colored overlays, placed over a page, can make reading more comfortable for many students.
The Basics
Signs to watch for
Bothered by bright, fluorescent, or glaring light
Says words or letters move, blur, or run together
Rubs eyes, squints, or gets headaches while reading
Loses their place, skips lines, or tires quickly with text
Has trouble staying focused during reading time
What being a pilot school means for our students
Through the Irlen Syndrome Foundation Pilot Program, Pathway is bringing Irlen screening into our school day, alongside the multi-sensory teaching and on-site occupational therapy our families already know.
A member of our team has completed Irlen training and is certified to screen Pathway students.
A certified screener on staff
Students are screened in a familiar place with people they trust, without an outside appointment.
Screening on campus
When colored overlays help, students can start using them in class, so reading feels more comfortable day to day.
Simple tools in the classroom
Common questions
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No. Irlen screening looks at how a child processes what they see on the page. It does not replace a regular eye exam with an eye doctor.
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Every Pathway student is eligible for Irlen screening. We ask for parent consent before any screening begins, and results are sent home to your family.
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No. Irlen screening is included in tuition, so there is no additional cost to families.
Ready when you are
Take the first step today
A short conversation is all it takes to find out whether Pathway is the right home for your child.