Parents express the needs of your child and get what they need from school

This blog is about how you as parents need to tell the school what your child needs whether if he/she has special needs or not to get what they need.

My youngest son was starting a new school and during the application process, I went to the school and filled out the paperwork and I detailed the needs of my child on the paperwork.  After I completed the paperwork I also spoke with school personnel about the needs of my child.   I explained that my son has a medical issue and needs to be allowed to go to the bathroom at any time and may have accidents.

At the end of the first day of school, I got a phone call from a counselor stating that my son was leaving the classroom all the time and that was unsafe.  I explained his medical situation again and said that you need to provide him with unlimited access to the bathroom.  I wasn’t sure they truly understood his needs.  The teacher was really trying to understand the needs of my son.

It is was a continuous learning experience for the staff to understand his medical needs.  The school thought he was doing the bathroom accidents on purpose which was not the case.  One time after he just went to the bathroom and came back into the class and had an accident. They thought it was on purpose, but with his medical issues accidents can happen at any time.   I also got many phone calls that my son has had an accident AGAIN.  Which for me was so disheartening because they clearly did not understand his medical need.    It was many conversations with many different staff members for them to finally understand my son’s medical issues and his accidents were not on purpose.  In the process, they came to understand my son’s needs and worked with him so his medical situation would be taken care of.  My son is doing well in school and likes school and his teachers.

Parents when you have a special situation with your child be as direct you can with the school.  It may take a while for the staff to fully understand.  Don’t get discouraged keep repeating the requirements of your child so he/she can get his/her needs met.