Children's Memorial Hospital and Chicago Public Schools create a manual for children with epilepsy

October 29, 2003 – Children's Memorial Hospital and Chicago Public Schools create manual for children with epilepsy

Chicago Public School's CEO Arne Duncan and Children's Memorial Hospital's president and CEO Patrick Magoon announced the publication of Seizure Management: a Handbook for Schools on Thursday, Oct. 30, at 10 a.m. at Children's Memorial. The manual is the result of a three-year collaborative effort between CPS and Children's Memorial's Epilepsy Center.

The handbook contains general information about epilepsy — its prevalence, symptoms, triggers, and current treatments — and a section tailored to the specific needs of the individual child in the classroom. By answering a series of questions, parents and teachers can build a profile of a child's specific condition and symptoms, and learn how the school should respond if a seizure occurs during school hours.

"Research shows that children with epilepsy are less likely than their peers to finish high school, to become employed, marry and have children," says Dr. Doug Nordli, director of Children's Epilepsy Center. "That is why it is so important to work together on both the child's health and education."

Staff members from Children's Epilepsy Center make visits to the classrooms of all school-aged patients treated at the center. They spend time in the child's classroom observing behaviors, and then work with the teacher to develop a teaching plan that will be effective. "Once we establish a personal connection with the school staff, we can help them develop a plan for adaptations in the classroom," says Nordli. "Schools are very eager to accommodate." The manual contains practical information learned through these classroom visits that can be used by all teachers and schools.

Children's Memorial social worker Sarah Mass says the handbook has helped to decrease anxiety among school staff. "If they understand more about epilepsy, they can have a higher comfort level in handling students with a seizure disorder in their classroom," said Mass.

The project was originally launched with start-up funding from Children's Memorial's Office of Child Advocacy. Through the generosity of several philanthropic donors, Children's Memorial will be able to make the manual available to all Chicago Public Schools, and to respond to requests from suburban school districts, private and parochial school systems. The manual includes general information about epilepsy, treatments and how to develop individual educational plans for students with epilepsy.

Interested members of the media may call 773.880.4500. Schools wishing to receive a manual must call 773.880,6378.