Waiver of Eye Examination Requirement

Section 665.650  Waiver of Eye Examination Requirement Children who show an undue burden or a lack of access to an optometrist or to a physician who provides eye examinations shall receive a waiver from the requirement for an eye examination.  (Section 27-8.1(1.10) of the School Code)  The school or district shall make a waiver from the eye examination requirement available and, if requested by the parent or guardian, shall provide a Department-prescribed waiver form that shall be used to demonstrate the child's eligibility for a waiver (see Appendix C). a)         For the purpose of this Section, an undue burden or lack of access to an optometrist or to a physician who performs eye examinations includes, but is not limited to: 1)         The child is enrolled in medical assistance/ALL KIDS, but the parent or guardian is unable to find an optometrist or physician in the community who performs eye examinations, who is able to see the child and who accepts medical assistance/ALL KIDS. 2)         The child does not have any type of medical or vision/eye insurance coverage and does not qualify for medical assistance/ALL KIDS, there are no low-cost clinics in the community that provide eye examinations as required in Section 665.610 and that will see the child, and the parent or guardian has exhausted all other means and does not have sufficient income to provide the child with an eye examination. b)         The Eye Examination Waiver Form shall be submitted to the school by October 15 of the school year.  If the Eye Examination Waiver Form is not submitted by October 15, the school may hold the child's report card until the Eye Examination Waiver Form is submitted.