Managing Your Child’s Chronic Disease: Make Your School Your Ally
Published on in Health Tip of the Week
Published on in Health Tip of the Week
Getting out the door and to school every morning can be a feat in itself. For kids with chronic illnesses, that’s just the beginning. Being able to go to school with their peers requires careful planning and attention to detail to keep them safe and healthy.
Fran Goldsleger, MSW, a social worker in the Division of Pulmonary Medicine at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), shared some advice for parents to ensure that a child’s health needs are met at school.
“When a child has a chronic health condition,” Goldsleger explains, “they may need medication during the school day. They may have special food or exercise needs. They may need to be protected from exposure to allergens. And they are often at higher risk for infection. Parents need to discuss all of this with the staff and make sure the school is able to meet their child’s health needs.”
Your child’s medical team can help you by writing a letter explaining the disease and any special accommodations your child may require. If the school receives federal funding, as most public schools do, you may have the right to request a 504 plan or an individualized education plan (IEP) from the school. (The IEP is used when a child needs specialized instruction or special services.)
Whether or not you request a written plan from the school, the kind of information included in the plans is important to discuss with any school or day care before you send your child there.
Here are some key issues to discuss when you meet with staff at your child’s school:
Many children with chronic diseases are at higher risk from normal childhood infections. A common cold that makes an otherwise healthy child stuffy and tired can send a child with a heart or lung condition to the hospital. Things to look for:
Some children with chronic diseases require a special diet. That might be a high-fat, high-calorie diet. Or it might be a strict requirement to avoid certain foods —exposure to gluten, for example, for a child with celiac disease. What you can do:
All children need some type of exercise, but children with chronic disease may not be able to join in all of the activities of their classmates.
Your child’s medical team can help you make a list of any other special needs your child may have, so that you can discuss them with the school when you meet. For example, your child might need permission to get up and go to the bathroom without waiting to get the teacher’s attention.
“Your goal as a parent is to build a partnership with your child’s school,” says Goldsleger. “Be clear and helpful in sharing information about the condition. You may need to be firm and persistent in pushing to see that those needs are met. But you should make an effort to show your appreciation, too, when things are going well. You need the school to be aware of your child’s needs and motivated to help them stay healthy.”
Contributed by: Fran Goldsleger, MSW
Are you looking for advice to keep your child healthy and happy? Do you have questions about common childhood illnesses and injuries? Subscribe to our Health Tips newsletter to receive health and wellness tips from the pediatric experts at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, straight to your inbox. Read some recent tips.