Hamden Public Schools Valarie Coppola, Coordinator Early Childhood Special Education & Speech & Language Services West Haven Public Schools Barbara 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

Internet Workshop Professional Journals Support Groups Parents  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. COMMUNICATION 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 Barbara Beecher or Donna Kosiorowski Medscape