Advocacy Letters for Children with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis
While most children and young adults with inflammatory bowel disease lead healthy and productive lives, it is not uncommon for such children to have periods of severe illness that interfere with school, activities, and work. During these periods, a family member or caretaker may also need to take time off from work to care for their ill child. These periods of severe illness or hospitalization are often very stressful for a child or parent. The child may be thinking “how will I ever get back to school?”, while the caretaker may be thinking “will I lose my job?”, or “what if insurance denies my child’s medications?” Fortunately, there are safeguards in place to assist families during these difficult times. They include the following:
I. Educational accommodation plans (504 plans) that can modify a student’s schedule, provide extra help, and return a child to their normal scholastic routine.