Hamden Public SchoolsValarie Coppola, Coordinator Early Childhood Special

Education & Speech & Language Services

West Haven Public SchoolsBarbara Beecher RN, Preschool Special Education Nurse

Donna Kosiorowski RN, Supervisor School Health Services

Discuss the medically fragile child from Birth to Three

Discuss the medically fragile child transitioning to school

Discuss the transition process for:◦ the nurse ◦ the family ◦ the health care provider◦ Discuss challenges

Meet Joshua and Marissa.Share the joys and successes.

Transition meeting- 90 days before 3 third birthday

Special Education Services

Qualification process◦ Evaluations◦ PPT’s◦ Categorization◦ Placement

PPT Agenda

School program◦ Educational model

Home program◦ Medical model

Relationships Trust Equality Decisions Support Understanding

InternetWorkshopProfessional Journals

Support GroupsParents

ADHD Angelman Syndrome Apert Syndrome Autism Spectrum Disorder Black Fan Anemia Cancer Celiac Disease Cerebral Palsy CHARGE Syndrome Congenital Healrth Defects Cornelia DeLange

Syndrome Cystic Fibrosis Dandy Walker Syndrome

Down Syndrome Fetal AlcoholSyndrome Hyperplastic Left Heart

Syndrome Hydrocephaly Klinfelter’s Syndrome Leukemia Marfan Syndrome Muscular Dystrophy Neurofibromatosis Noonan Syndrome Osteogenesis Imperfecta Pearson’s Syndrome

IECP

COMMUNICATION

◦ Home visit◦ Preschool visit◦ Parent visit to school and class◦ Prepare administrator◦ Prepare staff◦ Teacher orients class

Past experience Administrative Parent concerns Teacher/ classroom Staff Nurse Nursing services Transportation Environmental modifications

Stays in school.”

Training school nurses◦ Hospital for Special Care◦ In child’s home◦ Health Care Providers◦ Parents

Field trips

Local Emergency Response Providers

Multiple back-up plans

Familiarize yourself with the child Attempt to meet in preschool and/ or home Be open and honest Encourage discussion with family LISTEN to family and staff Obtain medical records, orders, and plans Understand impact of chronic illness or disability:

◦ on child◦ on family

Include necessary staff in planning Include family Maintain confidentiality Provide support

How do you balance medical needs and school policy?

Start talking early.

COMMUNICATIONCOMMUNICATIONCOMMUNICATION

Have one contact person.

Collaboration among school personnel Diagnosis should not drive program or

expectations Parents need to be open and flexible Programming may be trial and error Speech, language, feeding, mobility,

treatments, socialization

Valarie Coppola 203-407-2010 Valarie.Coppola@hamden.org

Barbara Beecher 203-932-6457 or 203-479-3334 barbara.beecher@whschools.org

Donna Kosiorowski 203-937-4332

donna.kosiorowski@whschools.org

Medscape http://www.pubmed.gov