Helping Kids Succeed: Communication between Home and School when Children have a Chronic Illness

Chronic illness interferes with all areas of child development and growing numbers of children with chronic illness are attending school. Educators need to understand the child’s condition, including treatments and medications, and potential effects these may reasonably be expected to have on academic and behavioral functioning of the student in the classroom. Effective communication between parents and teachers is essential to understand the impact of chronic illness on a child’s development and school experiences so appropriate supports and instruction can be provided. This research supports the need for increased advocacy to support parents of a child with chronic illness in communicating their child’s needs. With the expanding world of healthcare and child life, child life specialists may find new roles in advocating for and assisting with meeting the needs of children with chronic illness in educational settings.

Learning  Objectives:

1) Participants will be able to clearly articulate the impact of chronic illness on a child’s development.
2) Participants will be able to explain the value of communication and collaboration between the parent of a child with a chronic illness and the child’s teacher.
3) Participants will be able to identify parental expectations for their child chronic illness.
4) Participants will be able to advocate for supports for children with chronic illness to be successful in school.

Domain: Professional Responsibility