Possible financial help:
Lions Clubs (which helps with vision-related expenses, often paying for
vision testing and regular glasses) help in some locations. They'd had to be
educated first about Irlen and Irlen help. This may just mean talking with
someone on the phone and sending them a letter and info. Ask Irlen Institute
for the letters they have in their screener training packet from Lions
Clubs. (I seem to recall one or more on Lions Club letterhead.) Or Ask Irlen
to write a letter to the Lions Club. Once when I went for my own diagnostic
work, a boy was there who got Irlen lenses paid for by the Lions Club.
I have heard there may be some help from the Irlen Institute, similar to a
foundation, but I know nothing personally about it.
I've worked with 4 diagnosticians. Some require all the money up front.
Perhaps most do because of their own financial situations. One or two of
these 4 allowed people to make payments.
Of course a loan from the bank or using a credit card are options. Creative
thoughts: Loans from family or friends.... Ask grandparents/others to forego
other gifts and give $ for this.... Ask friends and family to have a yard
sale with all proceeds to go for this.
If your son is old enough, the Department of Rehabilitation might pay. IF
the school system believes in Irlen lenses, ask if they could fund; however,
in at least one court case, the school system did not have to buy lenses...
and it's best not to anger them if you want them to be nice to your kid.

Until you can get Irlen lenses:
Use a cap with a dark underbill in school light. (Caps can be allowed if
listed in a Section 504 plan or an individualized education plan (IEP).)
Your screener or diagnostician, physician or eye doctor can write a letter
requesting that a cap be allowed. My brother-in-law is a teacher of the
visually impaired and has students who wear visors. My son wears a cap at
school, but his high school actually allows caps.
Use overlay for reading.
Use similar colored paper for writing.
I had one client who tried on every pair of sunglasses imaginable to find
something that would at least help until she could afford lenses. Please
understand that Irlen lenses are VERY precise and far superior. But we're
talking light sensitivity and it's no secret that sunglasses help light
sensitivity.

Feel free to use anything on my web site if you need info to give the Lions
club or school. Irlen Institute also has a web site at www.irlen.com and you
could ask them for brochures.
If you need a sample letter requesting that a cap or visor and other
accommodations be put in the IEP, write me. julie@...
I will be very busy for the next 3 days and may not respond until next week.
Julie Evans, screener and lenses wearer, www.ReadingAndLight.com