Kids with epilepsy head back to school

Back to School with Epilepsy

To parents of children with epilepsy, heading back to school can feel like heading into a hurricane. But it can help to know there are resources available to you and your family. Included are websites on how to talk to school about epilepsy and information on the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

It is important for all parents of children with epilepsy to know that IDEA exists for your protection. Below is a summary which is available through understood.org.

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)

The process of finding a child eligible for early intervention or special education and related services under IDEA begins with a comprehensive and individual evaluation of the child in order to:

• establish that the child does, indeed, have a disability;
• get a detailed picture of how the disability affects the child functionally, developmentally, and academically; and
• document the child’s special needs related to the disability.

This evaluation is provided free of charge through either the early intervention system (for infants and toddlers under the age of 3) or through the local school system (for children ages 3-21). Under IDEA, children with epilepsy are usually found eligible for services under the category of “Other Health Impairment” (OHI).

We’ve included IDEA’s definition of OHI below:

IDEA’s Definition of “Other Health Impairment”

For more information

Also be sure to check out the Epilepsy Foundation’s page on legal rights of person’s with epilepsy.

And don’t forget to let us know your thoughts!