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Education and School Re-Entry
"Reality is that children want to attend school."
Education provides some normalcy for children
when everything else seems to be changing. Being diagnosed with a
childhood chronic illness can be devastating, education does not
have to contribute to this. You have choices!
At diagnosis and or when we receive a referral,
we determine school status. There are several options and we
advocate for the child to receive what works best for them and
their circumstances. Depending upon the child's treatment they can
participate within homebound (where a Clark County School Teacher
is assigned and the child receives education either in person,
through the internet or via telephone). The child can attend
modified school days. Our role is to support, advocate and ensure
that your child is able to participate within education at their
level.
If a child is ready to participate within
traditional schooling, we create individualized accommodation
recommendations, attend the 504 meeting and advocate for the
child's needs.
Our role within your child's education can
continue as long as you want it to. We can start at age 3, with
advocating for early childhood services and we can continue to
support, and advocate for your child throughout their college
years. We work with you, your child, and the education team to
make sure that your child can be successful.
Advocacy
Our social workers and/or our doctor complete educational
assessments create an individualized accommodation plan and attend
meetings to advocate on your child's behalf. Educational support
services start at age 3.
9 out of 10 children will need accommodations in
order to be successful within their education. Often times the
children are fatigued, have low stamina, may need frequent
bathroom breaks and it is our role to make sure they receive these
accommodations.
Kids on the Block
We hold the only chapter of the childhood leukemia version of
this educational program in the state of Nevada.
The Kids on the block, Inc. originated in 1977 in
direct response to US public Law 94-142, which required that
children with disabilities be educated in the least restrictive
environment.
These puppets are used to educate and to help
avoid gossip and teasing. At diagnosis, we have puppeteers go into
the child's classroom to educate the children on the diagnosis
your child has and to help encourage the children to stay in
contact with your child during your child's treatment.
When a child is ready to return to school, often
there are physical changes, (for example, children who go through
chemotherapy may experience hair loss, or, if a tumor has been
removed, the child may have difficulty getting around at first)
our puppets talk about the changes and answer the questions that
your Childs classmates may be too scared to ask your child.
At this point, we have one complete set of
puppets. The set is for childhood Cancer. We are hoping to expand
our program to include, sickle cell, diabetes, and hemophilia.
Back to School with Style
We like to celebrate your child's return to school. They have
already faced their greatest challenge and have survived childhood
cancer. Going back to school is a positive step towards getting
things back to the way your child likes it.
Each child that returns to school after 30 days
or more of treatment gets to have a number of gift cards to choose
a new outfit, new shoes, new back-pack and school supplies. They
are treated to lunch and a day at the salon. This program helps
our clients integrate back to school after missing a minimum of 30
days of school due to illness.
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