Informing your child’s school personnel about juvenile myositis is important. Parents have reported a variety of avenues they have taken in order to do this. Depending on your child’s situation and your school district, the following information may be of assistance to you:
Communicating with Your Child’s Educators
- Have child’s rheumatologist draft a letter to the school detailing your child’s specific needs. A sample letter is provided here: Sample letter for your child’s school (Word Document Format)
- Print copies of What is Juvenile Myositis? for school personnel
- Request meetings with school personnel (principal, nurse, teacher) to go over letter, detail any specific special needs and answer questions.
- Consider a formal presentation for school personnel, using Emily’s Voice as a template. The Emily’s Voice program was designed to assist teachers and other school personnel in understanding and helping students with disabilities that receive accommodations in a 504 plan and are mainstreamed in the classroom.
- Download the Emily’s Voice Training Booklet
- Download the Emily’s Voice PowerPoint Presentation
- School Accommodations for JDM and JPM
504 and IEP Plan Information
State Resource Sheets for Disability Related Issues
www.nichcy.org/states.htm
Special Education & Rehabilitative Services Legislation (IDEA & The Rehabilitation Act)
www.ed.gov/policy/speced/leg/edpicks.jhtml?src=ln
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/504faq.html
The Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP)
www.eric.ed.gov/PDFS/ED449634.pdf
IEP’s versus 504 Plans
www.slc.sevier.org/iepv504.htm
Guide to the Individualized Education Program
www.ed.gov/parents/needs/speced/iepguide/index.html
