Final Dodmerb Chapter

Vista123

5-Year Member
Joined
Aug 5, 2011
Messages
1,179
My son received a four year Army ROTC scholarship to a school where he has already been accepted. We knew he was going to have some challenges. Our biggest concerns were:
1. Color blind
2. Cauliflower ear
3. Acutane use

We didnt know to look out for the unexpected.

On December 23 2013, he had his Dodmerb eye doctor appointment. We were assigned to an eye doctor Elk Grove Village, IL. My older son who went through the Dodmerb process last year also had this eye doctor and we were surprised how rushed and hurried he was. Last year it seemed that the appointment was under a minute. This was concerning to me last year, since I knew this son was already going to have vision issues since he is color blind (technically is color deficient) this year I went into the appointment with my son after spending a lot of time researching every aspect of the vision test.

This year was the same. The eye doc in Elk Grove Village, IL was rushed and straight off the bat said "this will be a quick screen." Son was asked if he had worn contacts for three days. My son replied that he had not worn contacts for three days but had them with him.

Throughout the exam the eye Dr. kept hurrying my son and when he would take a few seconds to decide the answer the eye Dr. would quickly say, “Well, which one is it?” He consistently rushed my son. However, things took a turn for the worse when it was time for the depth perception portion. My son was not given an opportunity to put his contacts in. I later asked the eye doctor if the depth correction test should be with corrected vision. He said, “Yes but your kid didn't bring any glasses.” I explained that we weren't told to bring glasses, he brought contacts instead. Son wasn’t allowed to put his contacts in, my sense was that the eye Dr. was too busy to give him time to put them in. However, I later asked why son wasn’t allowed to wear contacts for the depth perception part of the evaluation. The eye Dr.stated that he was not allowed to put the contacts in “for three days prior to the test.” the eye Dr. was incorrect, according to the directions for the test it states:

Item 17 through 26. Before conducting vision test, find out is the examinee is wearing contact lenses. Soft contact lenses must be removed a minimum of 3 days before the examination. All other types of contact lenses (hard, semisoft, retainers, color–correcting, etc.) must be removed 21 days before the examination. If contact lenses have not been out the required period of time, note the fact in item 57 and continue with the examination. Have the examinee remove them for those tests where lenses would obviously cause erroneous results, such as items 17 and 19 (uncorrected vision). If the examinee usually wears corrective lenses (spectacles or contacts), have the examinee wear them during depth perception and color vision testing; however, make sure that lenses are not “color corrective.” –medical examination of applicants for United States service academies, reserve officer training corps (rotc) scholarship programs, including 2– and 3–year college scholarship programs (csp), and the uniformed services university of the health sciences (usuhs).

I watched as son failed on the depth perception portion of the evaluation that was given incorrectly by the eye Dr. I immediately called our family eye doctor (from the parking lot in Elk Grove Village IL), who replied my son does not have a depth perception problem unless it is a new problem. I then called Dodmerb and was transferred to my son's 'handler' who was extremely nice who suggested going on our own at our own expense and getting the test redone by our private doc and sending it in-maybe it would help, maybe it would not.

Son went to his eye doctor who did THREE different depth perception tests. Son wore correction and got a 100% on the test. Family eye dr. was so appalled by the Elk Grove Village, IL eye dr he didnt charge us. Family eye dr faxed over the results immediately.

BTW son scored a 0 out of 24 on the color test.:thumbdown:

I then called a private Dodmerb Consulting company run by a person who used to be in charge at Dodmberb to ask if there any other steps we should be taking to facilitate this. He gave some suggestions but otherwise said we were perfectly on track (he also didn't charge us because he said we didnt need a consultant and had it covered)--honestly so many nice people in this process

Audiological exam was missing. Dodmets (so nice over there too!) sent that Dr a chase letter asking for the audiological but then I called the dr regarding the audiological and they sent it while I was on the phone with them.

Son's portal was listed yesterday as qualified.

I cant imagine someone going through this process without taking an active part with regards to information gathering. I also cant decide if the moral of the story is to trust in the process and it will work out in the end, or dont trust the process because it may not.
 
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My son received a four year Army ROTC scholarship to a school where he has already been accepted. We knew he was going to have some challenges. Our biggest concerns were:
1. Color blind
2. Cauliflower ear
3. Acutane use

We didnt know to look out for the unexpected.

On December 23 2013, he had his Dodmerb eye doctor appointment. We were assigned to an eye doctor Elk Grove Village, IL. My older son who went through the Dodmerb process last year also had this eye doctor and we were surprised how rushed and hurried he was. Last year it seemed that the appointment was under a minute. This was concerning to me last year, since I knew this son was already going to have vision issues since he is color blind (technically is color deficient) this year I went into the appointment with my son after spending a lot of time researching every aspect of the vision test.

This year was the same. The eye doc in Elk Grove Village, IL was rushed and straight off the bat said "this will be a quick screen." Son was asked if he had worn contacts for three days. My son replied that he had not worn contacts for three days but had them with him.

Throughout the exam the eye Dr. kept hurrying my son and when he would take a few seconds to decide the answer the eye Dr. would quickly say, “Well, which one is it?” He consistently rushed my son. However, things took a turn for the worse when it was time for the depth perception portion. My son was not given an opportunity to put his contacts in. I later asked the eye doctor if the depth correction test should be with corrected vision. He said, “Yes but your kid didn't bring any glasses.” I explained that we weren't told to bring glasses, he brought contacts instead. Son wasn’t allowed to put his contacts in, my sense was that the eye Dr. was too busy to give him time to put them in. However, I later asked why Cormac wasn’t allowed to wear contacts for the depth perception part of the evaluation. The eye Dr.stated that he was not allowed to put the contacts in “for three days prior to the test.” the eye Dr. was incorrect, according to the directions for the test it states:

Item 17 through 26. Before conducting vision test, find out is the examinee is wearing contact lenses. Soft contact lenses must be removed a minimum of 3 days before the examination. All other types of contact lenses (hard, semisoft, retainers, color–correcting, etc.) must be removed 21 days before the examination. If contact lenses have not been out the required period of time, note the fact in item 57 and continue with the examination. Have the examinee remove them for those tests where lenses would obviously cause erroneous results, such as items 17 and 19 (uncorrected vision). If the examinee usually wears corrective lenses (spectacles or contacts), have the examinee wear them during depth perception and color vision testing; however, make sure that lenses are not “color corrective.” –medical examination of applicants for United States service academies, reserve officer training corps (rotc) scholarship programs, including 2– and 3–year college scholarship programs (csp), and the uniformed services university of the health sciences (usuhs).

I watched as son failed on the depth perception portion of the evaluation that was given incorrectly by the eye Dr. I immediately called our family eye doctor (from the parking lot in Elk Grove Village IL), who replied my son does not have a depth perception problem unless it is a new problem. I then called Dodmerb and was transferred to my son's 'handler' who was extremely nice who suggested going on our own at our own expense and getting the test redone by our private doc and sending it in-maybe it would help, maybe it would not.

Son went to his eye doctor who did THREE different depth perception tests. Son wore correction and got a 100% on the test. Family eye dr. was so appalled by the Elk Grove Village, IL eye dr he didnt charge us. Family eye dr faxed over the results immediately.

BTW son scored a 0 out of 24 on the color test.:thumbdown:

I then called a private Dodmerb Consulting company run by a person who used to be in charge at Dodmberb to ask if there any other steps we should be taking to facilitate this. He gave some suggestions but otherwise said we were perfectly on track (he also didn't charge us because he said we didnt need a consultant and had it covered)--honestly so many nice people in this process

Audiological exam was missing. Dodmets (so nice over there too!) sent that Dr a chase letter asking for the audiological but then I called the dr regarding the audiological and they sent it while I was on the phone with them.

Son's portal was listed yesterday as qualified.

I cant imagine someone going through this process without taking an active part with regards to information gathering. I also cant decide if the moral of the story is to trust in the process and it will work out in the end, or dont trust the process because it may not.

Whew! Glad this had a happy ending and he was qualified. I was worried as I started to read your update. Thanks for letting everyone know. It certainly takes persistence, and I believe a parent. I don't think any candidate has the maturity to drive stuff like this.
 
had the same eye doctor and it was VERY FAST. didn't like it. have to make up remedial exams so I will be going to my own doctor for this.
 
Wow Vista, that seriously sounds like the definition of a MESS. Bravo to you and your son staying positive through all that, and it's awesome that he's Qualified. Just got my letter in the mail as well..... Dreams becoming reality!
 
What an ordeal! I'm so glad you are on the other side of it Vista but geez! Let's hear it for parents who are involved in the process! ;)
 
yes they are making me get another exam. i have no idea why

Ok honestly that makes me furious that you have to deal with that. The guy was a total Dip$hit (yes I went there and I'm not sorry) I did file a complaint against him to Dodmets and Dodmerb. If there is anything I can do to help you please let me know. Grrrrrr!!!!!!
 
Is the eye doctor located at the corner of Devon and Arlington Heights road? If so, that is also the eye Dr. my son went to. His appointment was extremely fast as well but fortunately he didn't have any issues. He did bring his glasses along just in case.

I'm glad to hear it all worked out in the end!
 
I had cauliflower ear and had it drained and I was still qualified so at least for that concern you should not worry.
 
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