Irlen Syndrome Awareness Week is in October
This year, Irlen Syndrome Awareness Week is October 16-20, 2023
Donate today to support our Scholarship Program, Irlen Pilot Schools, and Research.
We’ve given out over $50,000 in ISF Scholarships for diagnostic testing and Irlen Spectral Filters to individuals from low-income households, changing the lives of people who would otherwise not have access to Irlen solutions. We can’t do this without your help! If you want to do more, you can join the ISF scholarship campaign effort and help us raise funds with your own personalized fundraising page letting your family and friends know how important this cause is to you.
Raising Awareness Never Tasted This Good
Join our team during ISAW by setting up your own virtual pop-up store!
50% of all purchases go directly to scholarships for Irlen testing and filters
Download the Double Good App to join our team!
Enter event code: SBCREC
More details below
Please check back regularly for updates and additional information!
Media Contact:
Sandra Tosta, PhD
sandy@irlensyndrome.org
562-496-2550
Irlen Syndrome (also referred to at times as Meares-Irlen Syndrome, Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrome, and Visual Stress) is a problem with the brain’s ability to process visual information. This problem tends to run in families and is not currently identified by other standardized educational or medical tests. This largely unknown and undiagnosed disorder affects approximately 15% of the general population, 50% of individuals with reading and learning difficulties, 30% of individuals with ADHD and autism, and a significant portion of individuals with brain injury, chronic headaches, and migraines.
Learn More About Who Is Affected
SIGNS OF IRLEN SYNDROME INCLUDE:
Learn More About Signs and Symptoms
AWARENESS WEEK ACTIVITIES
Join us for the following Irlen Awareness Week activities in your local area and online:
- Local Activities: Irlen Syndrome Awareness activities are taking place all over the world during awareness week. These range from picnics and pizza parties, to informational seminars and free mini-screenings. For regular updates on ISAW events around the globe, join the Irlen Awareness Week Facebook Group.
- Double Good Fundraiser: Help us do good with Double Good Popcorn! The Irlen Scholarship Fund provides assistance to those who would otherwise be unable to afford their own Irlen Spectral Filters. We believe no one should have to suffer from light sensitivity, so we’re counting on you to help us raise funds. We get to use half of the total proceeds, and it’s completely contactless. There are two ways you can get involved:
- Join our team! All you need to do is download the Double Good app before Awareness Week begins October 16th. Enter our event code, SBCREC, and you’ll create your own personal pop-up store you can share. Your friends and family will thank you, because the popcorn really is Double Good!
- Purchase your own bags of delicious popcorn through the ISF pop-up store. You can shop our store starting Monday, October 16th through Friday, October 20th here!
- “Turn Out the Lights”: Show your support for individuals with Irlen Syndrome by
turning out your fluorescent lights at school, at work, and at home for one minute on Tuesday, October 17th at 10am (local time) and then log on to the Irlen Website to let everyone know you participated by placing your mark on the BLACK OUT map! This is a simple and easy way to get school or classroom support during Awareness Week, so don’t be afraid to ask your child’s teacher to participate.
- Light Up Social Media: Share Irlen posts on your Facebook Page (or create your own personal post), Tweet about Irlen using the hashtag #isaw2023, Post pictures of yourself wearing your Irlen Spectral Filters on Instagram, Snapchat, or your other favorite social media.
- Post a First-Time Try-On Video on Instagram: If you’re new to Irlen, we’d love to see your reaction when you put on your Irlen Spectral Filters for the first time, so grab your phone and film yourself. Tell us what you think, and end your video by saying, “I love my Irlen Spectral Filters!” Then post your video on Instagram with #isaw2023. Or, if you’ve worn Irlen Spectral Filters for a while already, tell us in 1-minute or less what your thoughts were when putting your lenses on for the very first time, what’s the first thing you noticed? End your video by saying, “I love my Irlen Spectral Filters!” Then post your video on Instagram with #ilovemyirlenfilters.
- Fundraise: Help us reach our $15,000 fundraising goal! Do Good with Double Good popcorn. Double Good gives 50% of all popcorn sales during awareness week to the Irlen Syndrome Foundation Scholarship Fund, so stock your cupboards with the best-tasting popcorn around, or better yet, create your own virtual pop-up store by following the instructions above to make an even bigger impact! BUY NOW
GET INVOLVED
How you can get involved and make a difference in your hometown:
- Give a presentation to your class or your school about Irlen Syndrome (sample presentations are available in the resource section of this page)
- Organize your school or office to Turn Out the Lights in support of individuals with Irlen Syndrome
- Make Irlen your theme on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, etc. for the week. Share our new headache video or the Irlen Infographic.
- Donate to help increase access to Irlen services to those who need them most
RESOURCES
Download Resources to use in your own awareness week efforts:
- Turn Out the Lights Promotional Graphic
(CLICK TO DOWNLOAD TURN OUT THE LIGHTS_8x11)
- Presentation for Kids and Classrooms
(CLICK TO DOWNLOAD PRESENTATION)
- Super Color Rangers
The children’s book, Super Color Rangers, takes a genuine stab at making color powerful, special, and fun! it’s a great way to share about Irlen Syndrome with any group of young children or elementary classroom. And, on top of all this, every book sold helps benefit the Irlen Syndrome Foundation, providing scholarships for Irlen services, and supporting research and outreach efforts around the world!
DONATE
Your gift will help The Irlen Syndrome Foundation will get Irlen Syndrome sufferers the help they need. It will provide access to much-needed Irlen Services both by providing Irlen solutions directly to individuals in need and also by training educators and other professionals to provide these solutions in their own communities. The Irlen Syndrome Foundation is a 501(3)(c) charity and all donations are fully tax-deductible. Our federal tax ID is 33-0409023.
