ABOUT David
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My story begins many years ago when I was born as a premature baby. My early start contributed to the multiple learning difficulties I experienced at school. I remember how much time I spent trying to concentrate and learn. I was not the only member of my family struggling - my older brother was diagnosed with learning disabilities and with the help of vision therapy progressed well at school and today is a well respected medical specialist. This was all the motivation I needed to enroll as an optometry student.
In my third year of optometry I was encouraged by my lecturers to study children's vision. As I began to research the subject further I came to understand my own learning difficulties. My initial experience working with patients showed me what could be achieved without the need for medical intervention. As time went by I realised that the whole brain system could be reorganised via the visual system to function more efficiently.
This inspired me to complete a Doctor of Optometry (O.D) at the Pennsylvania College of Optometry in Philadelphia, graduating with Honours in Paediatric Optometry. I was privileged to work with the worlds best in areas of learning disabilities, partial sight, visually and mentally disabled people.
I returned to South Africa and taught at the Optometry school in Children's Vision and Low Vision. In the 80's I moved with my family to Sydney, Australia to set up my own practice.
Initially I experienced a resistance by authorities in Australia to recognise the existence of learning disabilities, which was preventing children in schools from receiving correct remediation where necessary. I campaigned for better diagnosis therapy and after years of lobbying the Australian College of Behavioural Optometry instigated a fellowship exam. As one of the initial fellows I assisted by lecturing students completing their masters course in Behavioural optometry.
Today I am often invited as the guest speaker at various schools, learning difficulty conferences, P&C committees and other interest groups.
A highlight of my career was working as a volunteer at the Olympic and Paralympic 2000 eye clinic. I enjoyed this work tremendously and was faced with a myriad of new challenges. I was appointed the NSW State Director of The Australasian College of Behavioural Optometry in 2007. In 2008, we expanded our practice to provide services in Singapore.
