When the Right Tools Change Everything: Bristol’s Story
Eight-year-old Bristol does gymnastics and wrestling, she has a twin brother who watches out for her, and a smile that lights up a room. She also has nystagmus, foveal hypoplasia, and ocular torticollis, which is a combination of visual conditions that, without the right support, could have made school, sports, and daily life feel like an uphill climb.
Instead, Bristol is thriving. And her mom, Lisa, says a lot of that comes down to the tools and guidance she received at NewView Oklahoma.
The Technology That Made it Click
After a referral from Dr. Lynn at the Dean McGee Eye Institute, Lisa brought Bristol to NewView for the first time to talk rehabilitation.
“Dr. Horner explained everything to Bristol in a way she understood; using kid language. And we left that first visit with what she needed.” Lisa, Bristol’s mom, said.
At the center of Bristol’s toolkit is a device called the Juno — a portable video magnifier that sits on her desk at school. Place any reading material underneath it, and it magnifies the text, adjusts contrast, changes colors, and can even read aloud when she needs it. For a child whose world was previously blurry and hard to retain, the Juno opened a door.
Bristol also uses a slant board for better positioning, enlarged print materials for subjects like math, and dark black pens — because higher contrast helps her see her own handwriting more clearly.
“We were on the edge of retention with her, and she thrived with all the tools NewView gave her. They made her more confident, not just as a person, but confident in her schoolwork and being around other people,” Lisa said.
What NewView provided wasn’t just a bag of devices. Bristol went from a basic 504 plan to a full visual impairment IEP, a process that Lisa had to fight hard for with her school district. Through it all, NewView’s documentation and advocacy letters from Dr. Horner helped make the case.
One of the first things the NewView team told Lisa was that Bristol’s visual impairment didn’t have to keep her off the mat or out of the gym. Wrestling, it turns out, is actually well-suited for kids with low vision. It’s a close-contact sport where you can feel your opponent. And gymnastics modifications keep her safe on the beam while still letting her build skills.
“We didn’t think she’d be able to do any kind of fun sports because of her vision,” Lisa said. “But now, knowing she’ll probably be able to get her driver’s license because of the work NewView has done with her gives peace of mind. Not just for her, but for us. She’s going to be able to have a good life.”
If NEwView Didn’t Exist
When asked what Bristol’s life might look like without NewView, Lisa didn’t hesitate.
“We wouldn’t have any of the accommodations we have now. Or, it would have taken ten times longer to get them. If it weren’t for NewView, it would have been a lot harder to get Bristol what she needed — for sure.”
For families in Oklahoma who are just receiving a vision diagnosis for their child, Lisa has a message: “There are more people in this world who deal with the same challenges than you might realize. You’re not alone, and there is hope.”
NewView Oklahoma provides low vision evaluations, assistive technology assessments, and ongoing services for children and adults across the state.
