Ed. Note: Names have been changed and details disguised in this story to protect the privacy of the adopted children.)

Parenting can be a challenge for Sally and Ken Tappan, who are raising five adopted children, all from foster care and all with special needs.
Fortunately, the Tappans have discovered a special place -- Dr. Rick Graebe’s Family Eyecare Associates that houses the Children’s Vision and Learning Center in Versailles.
Dr. Graebe’s expertise is Vision Therapy, which deals with the eyes, brain and body, and how they work together.
Since last spring, three of the Tappan’s five children -- who range in age from 5 to 11 -- have undergone Vision Therapy.
And the results have been life-changing, according to Sally Tappan.
“When you’re told your child has limitations and then you learn that it won’t be as bad as you thought because of this therapy, that’s always tremendous,” she said.
The most obvious beneficiary is Grace, one of the younger children, who has amblyopia, or lazy eye.
Grace also has Duane’s Syndrome, a condition that restricts peripheral vision because an eye can’t move laterally away from the nose to the outer corner of the socket.
That may no longer be true for Grace.
“During her treatment, the therapists starting dancing around and were very excited because they could get her to move her eyes to the outer corners,” Sally said.
The therapy has improved her lazy eye to the point where the condition is no longer immediately obvious.
In addition, Grace’s clumsiness, linked to her vision, has abated.
“When she was younger, she had 10 to 12 falls a day,” Sally said. “Now, she falls about once every couple of weeks. Her balance has really improved.”
Chris, the middle child in elementary school, has ADHD, which impaired his reading.
“His reading has definitely improved,” Sally said. “His eyes can now track together, and he can follow the letters along the page. That has made me very hopeful.”
The same is true of the oldest child, Brenda, a fifth-grader whose reading comprehension has improved.
Although IQ tests put her at low average, she is getting A’s and B’s at a private school with an ambitious academic program.
“For her, I’m really excited,” Sally said. “The state offers free tuition to a state college for children adopted from foster care, and now I feel like there is a good chance of her taking advantage of that.”
Because of the success of Vision Therapy, Sally expects her other two children to join the program too.
That’s why Sally has become a regular Johnny Appleseed for Vision Therapy, telling those she meets about its benefits.
“It’s just so hopeful,” she said, “to see doors of opportunity open because of the therapy, and the children are now capable of walking through them.”