Enhancing Reading Skills through Jump Eye Movement Training
Read Between the Lions is a reading skills program for all ages developed to identify a keystone visual skill, the jump eye movements necessary for reading. The program was developed by Lions Clubs International Nevada District 46 Lions Richard Meier, OD, FCOVD and Janyce Rossall, with the help of dozens of dedicated volunteers who helped develop and implement the program procedures and protocol. The program is managed by the developers and a team of volunteers around the world.
2021 Vision Award of Community Service
We are the recipients of the first-ever Vision Award for Community Service by the Nevada Optometric association, recognizing continuous work in the community to promote eye health and eye care along with the Lions Clubs of Reno.
Our Goals at Read Between the Lions
Identify Individuals with Poor Jump Eye Movements
Our first goal at RBTL is identifying students and adults struggling with poor jump eye movements. By conducting comprehensive assessments and evaluations, we aim to accurately identify individuals who can benefit from our program.
Recommend and Implement Effective Training
RBTL is committed to providing targeted training programs to improve jump eye movements and enhance central and peripheral processing. We strive to empower individuals to overcome reading difficulties and enhance their visual abilities through evidence-based methodologies and personalized interventions.
Reach and Benefit Millions of Individuals
RBTL recognizes the vast number of people who can benefit from our focused practices. By expanding our reach and spreading awareness about the importance of jump eye movement training, we aim to positively impact the lives of millions of individuals worldwide.
Promote the Enjoyment of Reading
We firmly believe reading should be an enjoyable experience for everyone. Through our programs, we endeavor to make reading engaging, rewarding, and fun, fostering a love for literacy and a lifelong passion for learning.
How Read Between the Lions Came to Be
The Reading Skills program was developed by leading Behavioral Optometrist, Richard Meier, OD, FCOVD. Dr. Meier has dedicated his career to empowering individuals to overcome reading difficulties and enhance their learning abilities.
In 2011, Janyce Rossall and Dr. Meier met with the WCSD Superintendent discussing visual tracking in students. This meeting led to a two year study that found 192 students couldn't track. The students were referred for further evaluation but only one was tested by an optometrist. The other 191 were never tested.
Janyce and Dr. Meier recognized students were falling through the cracks. They created Read Between the Lions utilizing the generosity of Lions Clubs volunteers. Initially, Lions volunteers screened several hundred first-graders in three elementary schools in Northern Nevada. They helped students learn to do accurate jump eye movements which translated into better reading.
In 2020, RBTL was transitioned to a virtual program teaching Lions and educators worldwide. Lions are utilizing this program in Reno, San Francisco, Southern California, Arizona, Texas, Wisconsin, Illinois, Massachusetts, Idaho, Oregon, Colorado, Hawaii, and Nepal.
Richard Meier, O.D. shares his journey
Imagine the frustration of discovering that your teachers labeled you as dumb, lazy, and stupid because you frequently dozed off in class, lost your place while reading, and struggled to answer questions when called upon. Their solution? Go to bed early, eat peanut butter for breakfast, and forget about playing sports. Thankfully, my parents saw through this unfair judgment. Instead of accepting those labels, they enrolled me in Boy Scouts, encouraged me to excel in baseball, and focused on building my success.
I embraced these opportunities, and it paid off. I became the youngest Eagle Scout in Nevada, earning 46 merit badges. I participated in the Order of the Arrow, ventured to Philmont Scout Camp, completed Junior Leader training, and swam a mile. Additionally, I sold the most tickets to the Pancake Breakfast for three consecutive years in Little League Baseball and made it to the All-Stars team. Despite my achievements, I struggled as a slow reader who often fell asleep, even after getting an eye exam that revealed I only needed glasses to see the board. Unfortunately, I was advised to wear them constantly, making me more prone to dozing off.
Undeterred, I entered high school and took honors classes. English class, however, remained a challenge due to the reading requirements. Nevertheless, I completed the assignments by reading in many ½ hour periods. When I attended the University of Nevada, Reno, I pursued a Pre-Med major to fulfill my mother's dream of me becoming a doctor. After graduating with honors, a major in Biology, and a minor in Chemistry, I worked as an orderly at the hospital for three years. I observed doctors tirelessly caring for their patients at all hours. During this time, I realized I wanted a fulfilling family life, leading me to marry Sue during my junior year. We are now celebrating 49 years of marriage
Despite my academic success, my slow reading and persistent sleepiness persisted. In my second year of attending Pacific University College of Optometry, a third year student conducted an eye exam and shed light on my condition. She discovered I had difficulties focusing, tracking, and converging, which explained my reading struggles. The question arose: How had I gotten this far and performed so well despite these challenges? The answer lay in my parents' unwavering support, teaching me the values of persistence, tenacity, and patience.
With a treatment plan in place, I underwent visual therapy to improve my tracking, focusing, and converging abilities. The results were remarkable. My reading speed soared to a college level, my convergence improved, and I finally learned to focus effectively. Upon graduating, I made a decision that changed the course of my career—I would specialize in visual therapy to enhance my patients' lives. I refused to let anyone else suffer from the misdiagnosis of being dumb, lazy, or stupid. Over 36 years in practice, I have taught thousands of patients how to perform at a higher level and achieve success in their lives.
My journey reminds me that labels and misconceptions should never define us. With determination and the proper support, we can overcome obstacles and realize our true potential.
Dr. Meier: Helping Thousands to See the World Clearer with Less Effort
Dr. Meier, a Fellowship Trained Behavioral Optometrist with over 44 years of experience, is committed to giving back to the world by sharing the invaluable gift of improved jump eye movements (tracking).
Professional Accomplishments
Developed the largest visual therapy practice in Nevada
Young Optometrist of the Year Nevada
Nevada Business Journal Health Care Hero 2007
Lectured at several COVD conferences
Lectured in South Africa about behavioral optometry
Lectured in Australia at the ICBO conference 2018 about Read Between The Lions
Personal Joys
Married Sue August 10, 1974, and sons, Josh, a double Harvard trained sinus surgeon who practices at Nevada ENT, in Reno, and Dane, who received a Master's degree from Willamette University and teaches ceramics at McQueen High School, in Reno.
Ran 44 marathons and multiple relay races, biked the Death Ride 10 times, 1000s of miles of biking, and Peloton training 3 years over 100,000 minutes of training, hiking 1000s of miles with his dogs, water skiing 40 years, skiing 60 years, and taught cross country skiing 12 years
Woodworking, metalworking, landscaping and yard maintenance, reading, relaxing and enjoying a fantastic life with his great family
Janyce shares her journey
Before launching RBTL, I had been a dedicated member of Reno Arch Lions for 17 years, actively serving on various Lions' committees, including the Washoe County Lions Sight Conservation Committee (WCLSCC). Through WCLSCC, we coordinated vital community vision screenings, provided free eye exams and eyeglasses to those in need, and offered essential vision services, including surgeries, at no cost.
In 2011, I had the opportunity to collaborate with Dr. Meier, who alerted us to a critical problem in our schools – a lack of coordinated jump eye movements that affected about 20% of individuals between ages 3 and 103, hampering efficient reading skills. This revelation prompted us to initiate a program to address the issue in schools.
As part of the Vision Task Force, which the school board established to study the need for screening, we worked tirelessly with nurses, administrators, teachers, and volunteers, particularly Lions members, who championed our program. The task force's findings demonstrated the overwhelming need for the program, as 28% of the 314 children screened lacked coordinated jump eye movements, surpassing our initial expectations.
We then embarked on a mission to develop a user-friendly screening and remediation program to enhance coordinated jump eye movements and improve reading skills. My contributions to the program involved recruiting Lions volunteers to work in schools, coordinating mass screening sessions, fine-tuning techniques and protocols, creating necessary forms meeting specific requirements, and actively engaging with various stakeholders to spread awareness about our program.
Lions Club International Centennial Community Legacy Project Award
We are honored recipients of the 2017-2018 for outstanding development and outreach efforts.
We are Dedicated to Identifying and Supporting Those in Need
Our vision is to create a world where individuals with poor jump eye movements can unleash their full potential. We envision a society where reading is a fundamental skill and a source of joy and empowerment. Our targeted training programs strive to enhance jump eye movements and central/peripheral processing, enabling individuals to achieve increased reading speed, comprehension, and fluency.
Together, we can transform the way people learn, ensuring that every individual has the opportunity to thrive and enjoy the transformative power of reading.
