Whether you have a young child in school or a child who’s a young adult headed off to college, advance preparation is key to dealing with Migraine at school. In fact, adults attending college may also need to make preparations for handling Migraine at school.
Along with all the other back-to-school preparations, we must add the extra preparations to prepare students and those who will be responsible for and closest to them for dealing with their Migraine attacks effectively, efficiently, and safely.
It’s easy for time for school to start to sneak up on us as we enjoy the summer, but it’s important not to put things off. When students have a chronic health issue, be it Migraine or something else entirely, there are additional steps that need to be completed before school starts. There are extra preparations to be made to start the year off with fewer problems.
Migraine at school – kindergarten through high school
School rules have made it more complicated for chronically ill children and their parents. Many schools have a “zero tolerance” policy about medications, including simple over-the-counter medications. Some of these policies are so inflexible that students have been expelled for having Advil with them at school. Some schools also have very strict attendance policies that complicate matters for students with a chronic illness.
Let’s take a look at some of the prior preparations that need to be done before school starts and some tools to help students …
School policies
Check on the school’s policies before calling or taking your child to the doctor so you’ll be able to address all your needs with one call or visit. Do yourself the favor of making a list of what to ask when you call the school and notes of the information you get.
- Check to see if your child needs a letter regarding their illness or any medical records, including immunization records, to take to school.
- What and how many absences are excused with a note from parents?
- What necessitates a note from the child’s doctor?
- When a child has a chronic illness, is the absence policy different if there’s a letter on file from the doctor?
- Is there a maximum number of days beyond which absence from school results in failing grades or problems moving on to the next grade level?Check with your child’s school regarding their attendance policy…
- Check with your child’s school regarding their policies about children taking medications at school…
- Are children allowed to keep OTC medications with them? Prescription medications?
- If they must leave their medications with a school nurse or someone else…
- who is this person and what are their qualifications to dispense medications?
- who is the backup person if the person usually in charge of helping ill students is unavailable?
- where are the medications stored?
- what are the labeling and other requirements for you to send medications to school?
- if your child needs their medication, how long will it take for them to get it?
- Is your child required to take a physical education class? Will this impact their illness? If so, what arrangements need to be made?
- If you child rides a bus to school, do you know the route and whether riding the bus or waiting at the bus stop will affect your child’s health?
- Do you need forms to fill out to give your child’s teacher, school nurse, or school administrator information about their Migraines and what to do if your child gets one at school?
Doctors
Once you’ve gotten all the information you need from your child’s school, make a list of questions to ask, prescriptions to request, and information to get from their doctor.
- Do you need immunization or other records from the doctor?
- Do you need a letter about your child’s illness and treatment plan?
- If physical education class is a problem, do you need a letter or recommendations from the doctor?
- If your child is young and outdoors recess is a problem, do you need a letter from the doctor?
- If you have to send medication to school in its original prescription bottle, do you need an extra prescription for it?
- Speaking of medications, did you know that Axert is approved for adolescents ages 12 – 17? If you have a child that age with Migraines who hasn’t used an abortive medication before, now is a good time to discuss it with the doctor.
- Does your doctor have recommendations for handling your child’s illness at school?
At home
- Will your child be coming home after school, or going to an after-school program or babysitter? If they’re going to a program or babysitter, be sure that whomever will be caring for your child has all the information and medications your child may need.
- If your child is old enough that they will be staying at home alone before you get home from work, be sure they understand what they need to do after school and how and when to call for help.
- Always arrange a backup for your after school set up.
At school
- Decide if all issues can be handled via telephone, letters and forms, or if you need to meet with your child’s teachers and/or school officials.
- Children with chronic illnesses should usually wear some kind of medical identification. Be sure your child has it, wears it, and that it’s up to date.
- If you’re sending notes or letters to the school, and they’re going to an administrative office, you may want to make copies for your child’s teachers.
- Be sure your child knows who has their medications and what to do when they need them at school.
- If you need to fill prescriptions or get an extra supply of OTC meds to take to school, now is the time. If you plan to take meds you already have at home, check to be sure they’re not past their expiration dates.
- Talk to your child to be sure they understand any testing and treatment they may need at school and when they should ask that someone from the school call you.
- Talk to your child and be sure they know that they should never accept medication from another student. This is also as good a time as any to talk with them about illicit drugs that my be around the school and alcohol.
- Be sure to give your child plenty of opportunities to ask you questions or express their concerns or fears. The stress of worrying or being afraid can exacerbate their illness, and you’ll feel better knowing that they feel safe and secure.
Migraine at school – college
Handling Migraine at school doesn’t end with high school graduation. Especially for students with frequent Migraine attacks, checking out the college’s Office of Accessibility Services (or whatever your institution calls it) is essential. They can offer assistance with academic issues such as note taking or issues with missing classes or exams, housing issues such as lighting and other environmental triggers, and transportation issues. This can make a huge difference for both the traditional college student and for older students. Student health services should also be checked out before they’re needed so you know what’s available.
Migraine at school – forms for all students
We’ve assembled a group of forms that can be used to make handling Migraine at school go more smoothly. Again, preparing in advance is key. Choose the forms appropriate for your student (or yourself), and complete them before you need them.
[pdf-embedder url=”https://migrainewarriors.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Migraine_Forms_for_School.pdf” title=”Forms for Migraine at School”]