Scribd
Upload
12 views1 page

Supporting Students with Cancer in Schools

This document discusses steps that schools can take to support a child undergoing cancer treatment. It explains how cancer impacts children's physical, psychological, and academic development. Schools should work with parents and healthcare providers to develop comprehensive plans and provide a supportive environment. Developing an IEP through a multidisciplinary team allows students to receive appropriate accommodations.

Uploaded by

stacy.mathis1
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
12 views1 page

Supporting Students with Cancer in Schools

This document discusses steps that schools can take to support a child undergoing cancer treatment. It explains how cancer impacts children's physical, psychological, and academic development. Schools should work with parents and healthcare providers to develop comprehensive plans and provide a supportive environment. Developing an IEP through a multidisciplinary team allows students to receive appropriate accommodations.

Uploaded by

stacy.mathis1
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

dq7 ch 15

After reading the Hay et al (2015) article entitled, “Students with Pediatric Cancer: A
Prescription for School Success”, discuss what schools can do to support a child with cancer?

Childhood cancer occurs in both children and adolescents and can be devastating for both
the child and their family. Pediatric cancer is the leading cause of death by disease in children
from infancy to age 15 in the United States (Hay, 2015). Treatment typically consists of a
combination of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. Early detection and advancements
in treatment have improved over the years, but there is still a lot of work to be done to ensure
every child has the best chance at overcoming cancer. Although not part of the treatment plan,
there are many steps that school personnel can take in order to manage and support children and
their families that are impacted by childhood cancer.
Childhood cancer not only impacts the child’s physical development, but also their
psychological development and academic performance. Many pediatric cancer survivors develop
cognitive impairments and learning difficulties, have extensive school absences, and experience
diminished academic performance, which affects the child’s desire to return to school and ability
to be successful in school (Hay, 2015). Schools play a crucial role in supporting a child with
cancer. It is important for teachers and school personnel to recognize that they are in the position
to positively impact a child’s quality of life by working together to develop comprehensive and
flexible educational and health plans for a child undergoing cancer treatment (Hay, 2015).
School personnel should also provide a supportive and understanding environment in order to
support the child’s emotional wellbeing. Additionally, schools should maintain regular
communication with parents to ensure the child’s needs are being met both medically and
academically. In order to ensure the student receives appropriate accommodations and support in
the school setting, a multidisciplinary team should collaborate and develop an IEP. This will
allow to student to receive the necessary differentiated instruction, shortened assignments,
flexible school attendance, and school nurse input regarding health care in the school setting.
Studies have found that children who receive appropriate interventions exhibit improved reading
and written language skills during the first two years of re-entry after cancer treatment (Semrud-
Clikeman, 2009).

References
Hay, G. H., Nabors, M. L., Sullivan, A., & Zygmund, A. (2015). Students with Pediatric Cancer:
A Prescription for School Success. Physical Disabilities, 34(2), 1–13.
https://doi.org/10.14434/pders.v34i2.19643.
Semrud-Clikeman, M. & Teeter-Ellison, P.E. (2009). Child Neuropsychology: Assessment and
Interventions for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, 2nd Edition. New York, New York: Springer.

You might also like