I recently read that epileptic children can underachieve when in mainstream schools.
I am more than happy for my child to attend a normal school and feel that the benefits, particularly socially, far outweigh the alternatives. However, I want to make sure that my child’s school environment is accommodating to his needs so that there is less chance of him underachieving.
Does anyone have any ideas of what can be done in a child’s classroom to increase the chances of them accessing the education they are being given?
Louise
Epilepsy and the classroom
Hi Louise,
It is really important to become an advocate for your child if they are starting to have problems in the classroom. You need to start with the teacher and the school support team. Be sure that the teacher is aware of the types of seizures your child has and that they can recognize them. It is really important to document all seizures and any concerns the teacher has so that your child can be recommended for a teachers aide if need be.
I just did a recent podcast that really goes into detail on the subject of epilepsy in the classroom. Laura Yake was my guest and she is the Executive director for Seizures and Epilepsy Education in BC and deals with schools almost daily. She goes into detail on this subject and provides some excellent suggestions.
If you look over to the right side menu on the website, you will see "Recent Podcasts", then look for the first podcast that deals with "Support".
Alll the best,
Arlene Martell (Mom of Adam above)
Publisher, EpilepsyMoms.com
Making good connections with teachers is crucial
Hi Louise and Arlene--
I just want to say, in my experience, it's crucial to make good connections with your child's teacher even if she's not having any problems at the moment. Since Sarah's accident, I make a point of talking to all her teachers (she's in high school now, so it's quite a commitment!) and explaining her memory problems. (She has an IEP, but not a teacher's aide.) I figure that if they know I'm really involved, they're more likely to call ME if they see something out of the ordinary, instead of me waiting to hear about it from Sarah. And I stay on top of her homework to make sure nothing slips through the cracks.
I downloaded the podcast and will listen to it directly!
Annie
Connecting with teachers
I agree about how important it is to talk to your kid's teacher or teachers. I've been amazed at how little Austin's teachers have known about epilepsy--from what to do if he has a seizure to what to say to the other kids. In the beginning, I thought I could rely on the school nurse to provide some of this information, but it turns out that she's only at his school one half-day each week.
Honestly, the only person who knows enough about your child's needs enough to make sure he or she gets them met is you. You also have to be willing to ruffle some feathers along the way, but it's a fine line between being persistent and becoming a pest. I just try to stay polite and firm.
I haven't listened to the podcast, but maybe I'll learn some new tips there.
How early is too early to connect with the school?
Hi all --
Michaela's starting school this fall -- should I go in and talk to them now or wait until the fall to do it?
Go now
I'd go in now, before the school year is over. Talk to the principal at least, so that he or she can use that information to make a classroom assignment for your daughter.
I agree!
Randy48's absolutely right. You should go in now before the end of the school year. Or you could wait until just after the end of the year, since this is a pretty busy time for most teachers. They usually work for a week or two once the kids are out of school, and that could be a great time to go in.
I went already!
I called on Monday to make an appointment with the principal, and we met yesterday. I"M SO SO glad I went -- she's really nice and she's going to recommend Michaela be placed with one particular teacher. They also have a whole bunch of academic supports, mostly reading programs and stuff, but we talked about keeping an eye out for learning disorders.
I feel SO much better about her starting school now that I made the connection there. She also suggested that I bring Mich by after the end of the year so she can see the classrooms and the lunchroom.
Way to Go!
That is very good news. I can see you're feeling much better. It's sounds like you have a great principal. That should make things a lot easier for you and Michaela.
Melissa