Teachers can be great allies in keeping your child with muscular dystrophy safe and successful in school, but you'll need to make sure they have all the knowledge they need to help. Use these suggestions to create a information packet to bring educators up to speed.
Five Things Teachers Need to Know
1. My child may complain of fatigue when writing, seem clumsy or slow at times, and slur her words. These are health issues, not behavior issues.
2. My child may need extra time to finish classwork or exams, but with assistance and planning he should be able to keep up with his peers.
3. It's okay to let my child's classmates know about her condition as long as it is done in an appropriate way. I'd be happy to help prepare a program.
4. My child has a serious health condition, but he is still a child with ordinary interests and hope and dreams. Please help us keep his life as normal as possible.
5. Please keep the lines of communication open between our home and the school. My child needs all the adults in her life working together.
Printouts to Share with Teachers
Muscular Dystrophy: What the Teacher Should Know
Source: Government of British Columbia Ministry of Education
A Teacher's Guide to Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
Source: Muscular Dystrophy Association
Education Matters (pdf)
Source: Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy
Information for Educators
Source: Muscular Dystrophy Canada
Education Factsheet
Source: Muscular Dystrophy Campaign
