Which Faculty and Staff Members Should You Inform About Your Child's Epilepsy?
You want the best for your child each day. You certainly don’t want your child to be singled out in the classroom, and you don’t want to overwhelm his or her teachers, either. That said, it is important that someone in your child’s school understands the needs of your son or daughter—especially if a seizure occurs. So informing certain school staff that your child has epilepsy is an important decision for the well-being of your child.
The choice is yours
So whom do you tell? Ultimately, it is your choice. You know your child and your child’s condition better than anyone. If your child’s seizures are very well controlled, then perhaps just telling the school nurse is enough. If your child has frequent seizures, you may wish to inform the nurse, teachers, and other school staff, including the principal.
Informed and confident teachers and staff can make a large difference in how your child perceives his or her school environment. There may come a time when your child’s teacher will be called upon to react to a seizure. You know that how the teacher responds can have a strong influence on how the event is perceived by the other children in class. A teacher who reacts calmly, confidently, and properly to a seizure in class helps your child get back to class that much sooner, reduces the fears of other students, and promotes acceptance of those living with epilepsy. This response also includes providing appropriate information to the student’s family and to their classroom.
Plus, informing the staff at your child’s school can give you peace of mind—knowing that the people around your son or daughter are properly informed about your child’s condition and prepared to respond.
| Below is a list of people you should consider informing: |
| School nurse |
| Teachers |
| School administrators (principal, vice principal) |
| Gym teachers |
| Sports coaches |
| Day care providers |
| Car pool drivers |
| Bus drivers |
| Parents of your child's friends |
| Anyone on your emergency contact list |
Have the conversation
If you’ve made the decision to talk about epilepsy with members of your child’s school staff, the next concern is how to begin the discussion and what to tell them. Click here to learn more about talking about epilepsy with school staff.