Child has some medical condition, who can I talk to?

[Anonymous]

My child has a medical concern that is subject to some drug treatment which comes with many side effects that could change physical look, behavior and mental condition. They tell me that side effects could be depression, anxiety, emotional, anger, autoimmune, gain many weight, loss hair or attempted suicide. They try to give her the lowest doses, but I am thinking of the worst. I am concerned that she might not be in a good condition to attend school in person in the fall or school may call me often for some negative side effects of medications that cause disruptions in classroom if she goes in person. I want her to go in person, but I am concerned. We work at office, and I don't know if we can pull her out for school for a few months when she was under treatment. Is it something my workplace has to approve/allow me to work from home under some family leave law?

My child has IEP at ES, is it something or someone to talk to before or during the first week if school start date? IEP team or principal or school nurse or new classroom teacher?

[Anonymous]

As an elementary teacher, I would recommend the following:
Send an email to your IEP case manager and cc the administration (principal and assistant principal) letting them know about the new medication. Request that you have a meeting with the case manager, school health technician, nurse and classroom teacher. Understand that most 10 month employees (everyone listed here except administrators) are not checking their emails until they return to work (3rd week of August). Once you have the meeting set up, and it may not be until the first week of school, give the team as much information as you can about the medication and it’s side effects. Let them know what you will need from them in terms of documentation of side effects they see and how they should respond. Let them know that you will communicate any side effects you see at home to the team. The fact that your child already has an IEP should be a big help in this situation. Best of luck!

[Anonymous]

Excellent advice. I would add that side effects are usually rare so it’s good to set up an open line of communication and to be thinking about this, but I wouldn’t be panicking yet. There are ways to get time off through FMLA if you find you need it. But with an IEP the school may be able to manage things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As an elementary teacher, I would recommend the following:
Send an email to your IEP case manager and cc the administration (principal and assistant principal) letting them know about the new medication. Request that you have a meeting with the case manager, school health technician, nurse and classroom teacher. Understand that most 10 month employees (everyone listed here except administrators) are not checking their emails until they return to work (3rd week of August). Once you have the meeting set up, and it may not be until the first week of school, give the team as much information as you can about the medication and it’s side effects. Let them know what you will need from them in terms of documentation of side effects they see and how they should respond. Let them know that you will communicate any side effects you see at home to the team. The fact that your child already has an IEP should be a big help in this situation. Best of luck!

Op here. Thank you for the details. I will write them email in mid Aug.