5 Strategies to Support Learners with Chronic Illnesses
Impressionable, young minds are a vital part of society, and ensuring they receive the best education possible is essential. Unfortunately, chronic illnesses can impede a student’s learning progress and negatively impact their experience in the classroom.
Here are five strategies to support learners with chronic illnesses.
1. Create an Individualized Education Plan (IEP)
An IEP is a document that outlines the educational goals of a student with special needs. The document provides a clear understanding of the student’s learning needs and how the school will address them.
An IEP for a student with a chronic illness will likely include accommodations such as extended time on tests and assignments or even a modified course schedule. The goal is to support the student’s success without compromising their health.
2. Establish Open Communication
It’s vital to establish open communication between teachers, parents, and healthcare providers. Teachers must be knowledgeable about a student’s illness and how it affects their academic performance.
By keeping the lines of communication open, teachers can ask relevant questions and understand what additional support the student may require.
3. Make Accommodations
Accommodations are vital to support a student with a chronic illness. For example, if a student has diabetes, they may need to eat frequently or take medication during the day. In such a case, teachers can be flexible with their schedules and provide opportunities for the student to manage their health.
Additionally, students may need technological accommodations, including dictation software or screen magnifiers, to support their learning.
4. Support Mental Health
Living with a chronic illness can have a significant impact on a student’s mental health. Teachers and schools must understand this impact and provide resources to support it.
For example, schools can have guidance counselors or psychologists on staff to provide students with the emotional support they need. Moreover, teachers can create a classroom environment that promotes emotional well-being, encourages respect and inclusivity, and fosters a positive learning atmosphere.
5. Encourage Self-Advocacy
Encouraging students to be advocates for their own needs is an essential aspect of supporting students with chronic illnesses. Students must learn how to express themselves confidently and assertively to ensure their needs are met.
Teachers can facilitate self-advocacy by providing opportunities for students to learn about their learning needs as well as how to express them confidently. This can help students develop life skills that can aid them well beyond their classroom years.
In summary, supporting students with chronic illnesses requires collaboration between many stakeholders, including teachers, parents, healthcare providers, and the students themselves.
By creating IEPs, establishing open communication, providing necessary accommodations, supporting mental health, and encouraging self-advocacy, students with chronic illnesses can excel academically and thrive personally.
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