The Pulmonary Hypertension Association (PHA) offers comprehensive resources for parents of children living with pulmonary hypertension (PH) to prepare for back-to-school season. These tools provide help for parents of children with PH to educate school administrators, teachers and school nurses about their child’s physical limitations, as well as safety precautions for them to be safe and successful at school.
Many parents of children living with PH have (or need) 504 Plans (under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973) in place for their child(ren) with their child(rens)’s school(s), which include an emergency plan and required/requested accommodations for their child(ren) to have appropriate access to learning. Additionally, a 504 Plan may be accompanied by an Individualized Education Program (an IEP, under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act), which is designed to meet a child’s special education needs for academic success. Tracy Spencer, parent of a child with PH, has advocated fiercely in her child’s school district for accommodation. Tracy was filmed at PHA’s 2018 International PH Conference and Scientific Sessions explaining the differences between a 504 Plan and an IEP. Watch now on the PHA Planning for School web page.
Additionally, PHA provides the following resources for parents of children living with PH, to assist with planning for a successful school year:
- Accommodations to Consider Prior to 504 Plan (and IEP) Meetings with Your Child’s School: A list of accommodation considerations to help parents and kids living with PH to prepare for conversations with the child’s PH care team and school administrators for 504 Plans and/or IEPs.
- Back to School Tips: PH-Proofing Your Child’s School: A list of tips for parents to make the transition back to school for a new school year easier for kids living with PH.
- PHA’s School Resource Guide: An electronic handbook to share with the staff at your child’s school to ensure their safety in their learning environment.
For more information, email gro.noitaicossAHP@HPhtiwsdiK.
