Migriane & the educational system
Do your children struggle in school because of migraines? Are you aware of the formal options available to create uniform adjustments for them? By using the Special Education services, you can become a partner in customizing your child's education to accommodate their health care needs. All you need to do is write a letter to your child's school requesting he or she be evaluated for inclusion in the Special Education program. You and your child might find significant relief from an IEP or 504 Plan, which are written plans that describe (in detail) exactly what your child needs to success in school with migraine.
We fought for a long time and finally got and IEP approved for our son last year. It has made a world of difference in his stress level knowing that all of his teachers are now required by Federal law to abide by the written IEP plan.
His accommodations: flexible due dates, private testing room (trigger free), permission to wear hats and sunglasses to protect him from florescent lights, a designated quiet room if he gets an attack at school, no punishment for missing classes due to migraine, option to take oral exams versus written when symptomatic.
Has anyone else had success with this? Are you running into problems? Let me know your thoughts.
Hi Tammy,
I'm so glad you fought for this and got it! Good for you and your son! I am encouraged to hear that this is available for children who need it. Thanks for sharing.Just got another accommodation this morning. We have a tendency to both get hit on the same. I have really bad phonophobia, so I turn off my phone ringer and try not to have conversations until it's all gone. That's a real problem when the school expects a phone call to excuse him from class. I now have the ability to send his excuse via email. LOVE, LOVE his school!
It took us 9 years and 3 school districts before it finally happened. He had a TBI in 2nd grade from getting hit by a truck as a pedestrian. That's when his migraines started. Poor kid lost a full year of learning, had to go through years of therapy to deal with anxiety, and finally started getting real help at age 15. Just glad we were finally able to get him help.
Tammy,
Woo hoo! How great that you can now email the school! What a long fight, but persistence paid off!
So sorry to hear what your son has been through, but he sounds like a trooper, just like you 😀
