THE JEFFRAS’ PROGRAM THAT PROMOTES A HEALTHY SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT FOR STUDENTS WITH SPINA BIFIDA SECTION 504 PLAN Background Plan Objectives & Goals Spina Bifida is the most common permanently Successful integration of a child with Spina Bifida disabling birth defect in the United States. Spina into school sometimes requires changes in school Bifida occurs when the spine of the baby fails to equipment or the curriculum. In adapting the school close. This creates an opening, or lesion, on the setting for the child with Spina Bifida, architectural spinal column. This takes place during the first factors should be considered. Section 504 of the month of pregnancy when the spinal column and Rehabilitation Act of 1973 requires programs that brain, or neural tube, is formed. This happens before receive federal funding to make their facilities most women even know they are pregnant. Because accessible. This can occur through structural of the opening on the spinal column, the nerves in changes (for example, adding elevators or ramps) or the spinal column may be damaged and not work through schedule and location changes (for properly. This results in some degree of paralysis. example, offering a course on the ground floor). The higher the lesion is on the spinal column, the greater the paralysis. Surgery to close the spine is The Student has a recognized disability, Spina Bifida, generally done within hours after birth. Surgery helps that requires the accommodations and modifications to reduce the risk of infection and to protect the set out in this plan to ensure that the student has the spinal cord from greater damage. same opportunities and conditions for learning and academic testing as classmates, with minimal The effects of Spina Bifida are different for every disruption of the student’s regular school schedule person. It is a life-long disability with ongoing and with minimal time away from the classroom. medical challenges. Up to 90% of those born with the most severe form, myelomeningocele, also have hydrocephalus (fluid on the brain) and must have References surgery to insert a “shunt” that helps drain the fluid. • Lutkenhoff, M. (Ed.). (1999). Children with Spina The shunt stays in place for the lifetime of the person Bifida: A parents' guide. Bethesda, MD: Woodbine. and often needs to be adjusted with multiple surgeries as people grow and get older. Other • National Institute of Neurological Disorders an conditions that are common for people with Spina Stroke (NINDS). (2001). NINDS Spina Bifida info page. Bifida include full or partial paralysis, nervous system • Sandler, A. (1997). Living with Spina Bifida: A guide for complications, bladder and bowel control families and professionals. Chapel Hill, NC: University difficulties, learning disabilities, depression, latex of North Carolina Press. allergy, and social and sexual issues. Quite often, however, they must have a series of operations • Spina Bifida Association. (2007). Learning Among Children with Spina Bifida. Washington, DC. throughout their childhood. Shunt Malfunction and latex allergy reactions are the most common health • Spina Bifida Association. (2007). Educational Issues emergencies for students with Spina Bifida. Among Children with Spina Bifida. Washington, DC. Definitions used in this Plan 2. EDUCATIONAL ISSUES Myelomeningocele: This defect occurs when the Children with Spina Bifida/Hydrocephalus often meninges (protective covering of the spinal cord) show unique learning strengths and weaknesses that and spinal nerves come through the open part of the affect their schoolwork. Parents and schools need to spine. This is the most serious type of Spina Bifida; it work together to help young people meet their causes nerve damage and severe disabilities. physical, social, emotional, and academic goals. In addition, it is often important to refer the child for a Hydrocephalus, or water on the brain, occurs in special education assessment, in order to fully 70-90% of myelomeningocele cases, and Without evaluate the effects of Spina Bifida on development treatment, mental retardation or death may result. (such as intelligence, academic levels, visual perception, and receptive and expressive language Meningocele: The protective coatings (meninges) skills.) Neuropsychological evaluations can provide come through the open part of the spine like a sac more specific insight to changes in brain that is pushed out. Cerebrospinal fluid is in the sac development and their affects on intelligence, and there is usually no nerve damage. Individuals language, learning, and development. These may usually suffer only minor disabilities. New problems include attention span, perceptual-motor processes, can develop later in life. reasoning and problem solving, organization and sequencing skills, and memory. It is important for Occulta: Spina Bifida Occulta is often called hidden teachers to identify these problems early by Spina Bifida. In this usually harmless for of Spina watching for restlessness, distractibility, and Bifida, the spinal cord and the nerves are usually forgetfulness. Difficulties may include: normal and there is no opening on the back. There is ATTENTION a small defect or gap in a few of the small bones It is common for children with Spina Bifida to (vertebrae) that make up the spine. The underlying struggle with paying attention. They might miss neural tube defect is completely covered with skin. assignments, miscopy the assignments or work, be Frequently, there are telltale signs on close generally slow in completing work, or miss social examination of the back. Although there may be no cues from others. They generally are better able to motor or sensory impairments evident at birth, pay attention when listening than when seeing. subtle, progressive neurological deterioration often Suggestions: becomes evident in later childhood or adulthood. 1. Seat child in the front row or near the teacher to reduce distractions. Academic Accomodations 2. Gain attention and eye contact prior to instructions. 3. Give clear, simple, step-by-step instructions and 1. BOWEL AND BLADDER repeat if necessary. Check that the child understands what is expected of them. Many children with Spina Bifida need training to 4. Make short assignments that can be completed learn to manage their bowel and bladder functions. successfully. Some require catheterization, or the insertion of a tube to permit passage of urine. The courts have COMPREHENSION held that clean, intermittent catheterization is Children with Spina Bifida sometimes have a hard necessary to help the child benefit from and have time understanding things even though they seem access to special education and related services. The to understand. For example, some seem to speak age at which a child begins to work toward urinary well, but when they have to explain what they said, continence is individualized based on their physical or respond to questions, they seem disorganized, capabilities and social situation. When a urinary and talk about irrelevant things. continence program is initiated, it should be Suggestions: continued in a structured school environment. A 1. Use demonstrations and simplified expressions to successful bladder management program can be help the child “get a picture” of what is being said incorporated into the regular school day. (or read). 2. As the child begins to read, talk with him/her 3. Keep the number of items as few as possible that about what they are reading to be sure they know have to be used at one time. what they’re reading. 4. Encourage organized work habits and explicitly 3. Help the child capture “the main idea” of a story, explain basic strategies. movie or conversation. HANDWRITING DIFFICULTIES 3. HYDROCEPHALUS Children with Spina Bifida often find handwriting a Many children with Spina Bifida also have laborious task, with the end product being barely hydrocephalus and require a shunt. The most legible. Poor handwriting can stem from poorly common problems with shunts are they can plug or developed hand and fine motor control, problems obstruct, break or come apart, resulting in shunt with visual discrimination, and spatial judgment. malfunction. The signs of shunt malfunction are Suggestions: varied and can be confusing for everyone involved. 1. Teach directionality of words and sentences. Teachers must be aware of the symptoms of shunt 2. Encourage the use of special grips on pencils or malfunction. chubby pens. COMMON SYMPTOMS 3. Encourage correct posture for neater work. 1. Headache 4. Encourage the consistent use of one hand. 2. Nausea 5. Systematic teaching of writing skills. 6. Focus on letter formation and the appearance of 3. Vomiting finished letters. LESS COMMON SYMPTOMS MEMORY 1. Seizures Children with Spina Bifida often have difficulty in 2. Change in intellect, performance, or personality remembering things they see or hear. Even if they 3. Increased swallowing problems understand it, they may not remember it later. 4. Worsening muscle function, balance, coordination Children with this problem may find it difficult 5. Worsening bowel or bladder function copying work from the blackboard and students may 6. Worsening scoliosis or orthopedic deformities only be able to remember one word at a time. 7. Pain at the Spina Bifida closure site Suggestions: 1. Give brief, clear simple instructions to assist with 4. LATEX ALLERGY poor short-term memory. People with Spina Bifida are at a significant risk of 2. Repetition of information is often helpful for these being allergic to natural rubber latex. Research children, like when they are learning multiplication studies have shown that up to 73% of people with tables or spelling words. Spina Bifida are sensitive to latex, meaning that 3. Teach and encourage the use of note-taking, exposure to it can cause serious health problems. outlining and summary skills. This allergic sensitivity may even be so severe as to ORGANIZATION AND PLANNING be life – threatening. Latex is often a hidden Children with Spina Bifida may have trouble keeping ingredient in consumer products. Gloves used in things organized. This is clearly seen when school food preparation, balloons used in festive displays, materials, papers, etc.