The Medically Fragile Classroom – Gina Clifton (Meeting August 13 2016)

Meeting Notes

​When a child, due to a disability, illness or other disorder, is dependent on life sustaining medications, equipment or treatment in their daily activities, they are considered “medically fragile.”
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1. Have Hope - Look beyond the medical situation your child is in. As a parent you are almost always focused on the immediate health and medical needs of your child just to get through the day. To have hope you need to see the future. Pull yourself away by asking yourself these questions.
   • What do you want to see your child doing in 5 years?
   • What would help you and enable your child be more independent?
   • What do you want to see your child doing in 10 years?
2. Do not be intimidated – In any setting, educational, medical or care, you know your child best. Stand firm on what you want that is in the best interest of your child. 
3. Do not be afraid to ask – You have every right to do so at school and at the hospital
4. Inclusion in General Ed class – Your child needs the social interaction as well as hear the vocabulary spoken in an age appropriate class.
5. Take videos – Document what and how your child is learning at home.
6. Brain Gym (see handout) – A movement program based on the principle that moving with intention leads to optimal learning.
7. MOVE program (see handout) – Mobility Opportunities Via Education/Experience. Improves mobility skills by combining an individual’s current skills with an instructional process.

Resources

Brain Gym
http://braingym.org/about
 
MOVE Program
http://www.move-international.org/what-is-move/
 
San Diego Regional Center Activities
http://sdrc.org/resources-support/recreation/
 
Gina Clifton
Email: gclifton@sandi.net