The Mission of the Vision and Learning Forum is to encourage a multi-disciplinary approach to solving learning problems and to heighten awareness among parents of struggling learners concerning the relationship between sight, vision and learning.
What We’re About
The Vision and Learning Forum is a non-profit group of multi-disciplinary volunteers with a passion for spreading the word about the connection between vision and learning.
Our History
The group formed nearly 30 years ago. In the past, the Vision and Learning Forum held continuing education conferences for educators, and gave presentations on vision and learning to PTA’s and teacher continuing education classes.
Who We Are Today
The Vision and Learning Forum now seeks to provide online resources for parents seeking information on their child’s learning difficulties that may be associated with vision problems.
Board Member Bios
Tara Peterson, OD
VLF President
Tara Peterson, OD
Dr. Tara Peterson is an optometrist with a concentration in Pediatrics at a private practice in Littleton, Colorado. She is the President of the Vision & Learning Forum and a member of the American Optometric Association, Colorado Optometric Association, and the College of Optometrists in Vision Development. Dr. Peterson received the Young Optometrist of the Year award from the Colorado Optometric Association in 2011. She is passionate about children and the connection that good vision can play to enhance their learning and quality of life.
Gina Marangoni Gabriel
Gina Marangoni Gabriel, O.D., M.S.
Gina Gabriel graduated cum laude from The Ohio State University College of Optometry in 2004. During her time in optometry school, she worked as a vision therapist and served as vice-president of Students Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity, having the opportunity to travel to the Dominican Republic, Honduras, and El Salvador to deliver eye care to underprivileged communities. She graduated with several awards, including The Lyle Gassman Memorial Award, awarded to the optometry graduate who exemplifies humanitarianism, leadership and service, and The Binocular Vision and Pediatrics Clinical Excellence Award.
Dr. Gabriel completed a combined Pediatrics and Binocular Vision Residency and Master’s degree program at Ohio State. She worked in a pediatric and binocular vision (eye-teaming) specialty clinic helping children and adults with amblyopia, eye turns (lazy eye), vergence / accommodative / and tracking problems, and those with special needs such as intellectually disabled patients. Her Master’s degree research involved analyzing the focusing mechanism of three- to twelve-month-old infants. She was a masked examiner for the Convergence Insufficiency Treatment Trial (CITT) and the Study of Eyes and Attention Deficit (SEAD). Dr. Gabriel was honored to receive The Terrance Ingraham Pediatric Optometry Residency Award, which is awarded to the top two pediatric residents in the country each year.
Dr. Gina Gabriel joined Eagle Vision and Eye clinic in 2006. She is the Director of Vision Therapy and does InfantSEE exams as part of the American Optometric Association program. In 2009 she received the Key Person of the Year award from the Colorado Optometric Association. She lives in Louisville with her husband, Dr. Christopher Gabriel, who does organic chemistry research at Micron, Inc. in Longmont. She enjoys caring for her twins (a girl and a boy), riding her bike, hiking, skiing, and traveling.
Jennifer Simonson, OD, FCOVD
VLF Member
Jennifer Simonson, OD, FCOVD
Jennifer S. Simonson, OD, FCOVD is the clinical director of the Boulder Valley Vision Therapy Center. She assesses, develops, and directs an individualized vision therapy program for each patient. She is a graduate of the Ohio State University College of Optometry and a Fellow of the College of Optometrists in Vision Development (COVD). She is a member of the Colorado and American Optometric Associations and the Optometric Extension Program. Dr. Simonson was the recipient of the 2007 Colorado Young Optometrist of the Year. She is active on the Colorado Vision Summit planning committee, the Vision and Learning Forum, the Colorado Vision Training Conference planning committee, and enjoys public speaking. Her primary interests in practice include pediatric vision care, vision therapy, sports therapy, and vision rehabilitation.
Joseph F. Borden, O.D.
Joseph F. Borden, O.D.
Joe Borden, O.D. started working with children as a soccer coach and tutor in his home town of Golden, CO. He continues working with the pediatric population as an optometrist specializing in vision related learning problems and enhancing visual efficiency skills. As a member of the College of Optometrists in Visual Development (COVD), Dr Borden received the COVD Excellence in Vision Therapy award in 2009. He is also an AOA InfantSEE provider and Junior Olympics Volunteer.
Marisa Atria Kruger, OD, FCOVD
Marisa Atria Kruger, OD, FCOVD
Dr. Marisa Atria Kruger has been practicing behavioral optometry since her graduation from Pacific University College of Optometry in 1989. Dr. Kruger is trained and certified in Classical Homeopathy from the Colorado School of Classical Homeopathy in 2007. She graduated from Indiana University in 1985 with a Bachelor of Science degree in biology. In addition to private practice, Dr. Kruger has also been the Director of Vision Training at the Colorado Optometric Center and President of the Vision and Learning Forum.
Her interest in the relationship between vision and learning has taken the form of in-school vision programs, school screenings, consulting with Special Education teams, teacher in-services and volunteer tutoring for young readers.
Dr. Kruger has attended hundreds of hours of continuing education in the area of visual therapy and rehabilitative optometry. She is a member of Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association, Optometric Extension Program and the College of Syntonic Optometry; she is a Fellow in the College of Optometrists in Vision development and was awarded the Colorado Optometrist of the Year in 2001. Dr. Kruger received the A.M. Skeffington Award for Excellence in Visual Therapy in 1989.
Dr. Kruger has published articles on neurology and vision therapy for vision therapists, and has given many lectures for vision therapists, optometrists, parents and educators.
Dr. Kruger was an adjunct professor at Pacific University College of Optometry, Illinois College of Optometry and University of Houston College of Optometry. As a member of Lions in Sight, Dr. Kruger volunteers to bring visual examinations and glasses to under-privileged communities in Mexico and Bolivia.
Vision Transformation, Inc. opened its doors in December 2005 emphasizing visual training, specialty contact lens fitting and homeopathy.
Shirley Osorno, Educator
VLF Member
Shirley Osorno, Educator
Shirley Osorno graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree with an Elementary and Special Education specialty from Eastern Michigan University, and a Masters in Early Childhood Education from Antioch University. She started her career in Special Education at the Cerebral Palsy Centers in Detroit and Denver for nine years before moving to the Cherry Creek Schools as a first and second grade teacher, and later as Assistant Principal. Shirley retired in 1999 and continues her passion for vision and learning. She knows that vision plays a significant role in a child’s learning and has found it rewarding to serve on the Vision and Learning Forum.
