Community Forum

My son was first diagnosed with Crohn's disease last November when he was 15 years old.  He has done well with his medicine, and health wise he has done well.   The main problem is that he is on Mercaptopurine and because his immune system is weak, he picks up everything going around in school.  We were lucky last year, he only missed a few days with influenza, and his doctor wrote a note for him being absent.  This year however, is different because he has caught the flu and has had sinus infection all since Christmas.  He missed 2 days the first two-week of school, but we took him to the doctor on one occasion so that was excused.  This past week he was sick Tues-Fri with the flu.  We took him to the doctor on Thur. and they excused him for Thur. & Fri., but the school will not excuse him from Tues. & Wed. without a drs. note, which we are currently trying to get.  In our state after 10 unexcused absences, the matter is turned over to the court system.
 
I would appreciate any ideas other parents have as to how to handle this situation.    

 Reply posted for hsmom.

My son was just diagnosed and I immediately got him intermittent homebound instruction. (along with an IEP/504)  Now, he can miss school for reasons related to his health and and a teacher comes to our house.  He is not considered absent.  Go to your city schools web page, download the form for homebound instruction, have the dr check intermittent and put the dates from the first day of school until the last.  Once that is signed, it is going to keep you "safe" until you get the 504 plan. That can take a couple of months especially now that summer has come.  I do advocacy for special needs children.  If you are having a hard time, let me know.

 Reply posted for hsmom.

In the state of Massachusetts we have a 504 plan which provides accommodations for kids who need things based on their health.  It is federally mandated and is part of the Americans with Disabilities Act.  You must apply through your child's school    ( I initiated the paperwork with the school nurse) but once you receive this 504 plan you get accommodations no questions asked for things like absences and if your child needs more time to complete school work or take tests or must use the bathroom or eat food during the day.  There a quite a number of accommodations covered under this plan.  You should seek out a similar plan with your school.  I assume most states have some sort of variation of this.

Good luck.

 Reply posted for hsmom.

Definitely fight hard.  That is not  right.  Ask your GI or pediatrician to write a note stating that due to his illness and having an auto- immune disease, he may experience multiple absences.  That is what ours did every semester for our school records .  We are blessed with a great school system in Michigan where the principals and counselors have always worked with us through sometimes 40-50 absences.    We have done mivirtual online school full time at times and currently do half online and half in school.  My daughter just had a colectomy and  was hospitalized for 61 days this fall.  She is 14 and has had UC since she was 6.

I am am always saddened by administration that  does not work with this.  We have another high school in our district that other crohns-colitis students have to fight.  It's not like our kids and parents have enough going on.  My daughter got mono 3 times so I totally  get the immune system complications.

She thrives when she is healthy and is a competitive dancer and also has a solid 4.0.  They can succeed, but is takes a lot of people supporting them along the way.  Good luck!  

 Reply posted for lizzies mom.

Thanks for your reply.  My son does have a 504 plan, but I'm not sure if they would allow the absences without a drs. note.  The clinic did come through with a revised note so he is covered this time.  I just wnt to have a plan of what to do the next time.

 Reply posted for hsmom.

I understand each state has different attendance policies.   I would definitely hound the doctor to send a "revised" note, but am curious to see if you have a 504 plan set up with district.  Our kids are covered under the Americans With Disabilities Act and a 504 Plan puts any "special" requirements in writing to hold all parties accountable.   The requirements could be as simple as allowing student to have a bottle of water @ all times, unlimited bathroom breaks, seating closest to the door, add'l time for timed exams, etc.  This site actually has a template if you search 504 plan above.  Good luck.