For most of Michigan, Labor Day marks the end of summer before heading back to school for another year of learning, growing and all that good stuff. But if you have a kid with a chronic disease like juvenile arthritis or psoriasis, nervousness can sometimes outweigh the good stuff of starting a new school year.
No matter if your child is entering kindergarten or senior year, getting teachers, administrators and staff on board with what to expect and how to best help your child should be a top priority. It doesn’t do anyone any good – especially your child – if you wait until a problem arises. Avoid the mess and cleanup by getting organized and educating the educators early in the school year.
In August 2015, I provided some tips for avoiding roadblocks and lessen the worry of sending your chronically ill child off to school, especially when setting up a 504 Plan at school. Check out “A Spot of Accommodations” to read the full blog post.
This Thursday, I’ll be presenting on behalf of the Arthritis Foundation (AF) and National Psoriasis Foundation (NFP) at an American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association (AARDA) support group meeting. The meeting is free to attend. The topic - Life as a Child with Autoimmune Disease – will cover 504 Plans, working with doctors, and letting your kid be a kid.
Time: 7-9 pm
Date: Thursday, Sept. 8, 2016
Location: Henry Ford Medical Pavilion, 4th floor, Conference Room 3 (16151 19 Mile Rd., Clinton Township, MI 48038)
Download the flyer for more information.
If you can’t attend the meeting, check out the AF’s website for children with arthritis called Kids Get Arthritis, Too. There you can get more information about what juvenile arthritis is, meet other families, read stories from parents who can provide hope to families, and get tips from kids and teens who are living with arthritis. You can even read my excerpt from the book Raising a Child with Arthritis where I talk about setting up a 504 Plan.
There are also plenty of NPF materials and resources focused on children with psoriasis. Check out the Patient Navigation Center. It’s a great place to get free one-on-one personalized care. NPF can also match you with a parent mentor to help guide you on the crazy journey of juvenile psoriasis and juvenile psoriatic arthritis. And don’t forget its online community, TalkPsoriasis, where you can connect with other parents and caregivers to exchange information and meet friends.
Starting a new school year can be scary and overwhelming when you have a child with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis - but it can also be exciting. Don’t let your fears take over. Get organized, educate the educators, an remember that your kid needs to be a kid and that includes making mistakes, falling down, and getting back up. Make it a great year for everyone.
Wishing everyone health and happiness for the 2016-2017 school year!
