Call to Action: Help create a safe learning environment for medically fragile students

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, your letter does not mention whether a medical professional has recommended this plan. It is also odd that it only mentions COVID as the danger when there are so many other illnesses that put immunocompromised children at risk. Honestly it reads like a letter from someone who wants COVID restrictions forever, not someone who is concerned about specific children's needs.

Of course it hasn't been recommended by a legitimate medical professional. There are no conditions that make unmasked school unsafe but masked school safe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, your letter does not mention whether a medical professional has recommended this plan. It is also odd that it only mentions COVID as the danger when there are so many other illnesses that put immunocompromised children at risk. Honestly it reads like a letter from someone who wants COVID restrictions forever, not someone who is concerned about specific children's needs.

Of course it hasn't been recommended by a legitimate medical professional. There are no conditions that make unmasked school unsafe but masked school safe.

That's what I heard on Tucker too!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, your letter does not mention whether a medical professional has recommended this plan. It is also odd that it only mentions COVID as the danger when there are so many other illnesses that put immunocompromised children at risk. Honestly it reads like a letter from someone who wants COVID restrictions forever, not someone who is concerned about specific children's needs.

Of course it hasn't been recommended by a legitimate medical professional. There are no conditions that make unmasked school unsafe but masked school safe.

That's what I heard on Tucker too!

By all means, please identify a genetic condition where a 20% risk reduction from masking is able to make the difference between a safe and unsafe activity.

[Anonymous]

OP, New covid vaccines are available. You might talk to your doctor about having your child get the new covid vaccine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, your letter does not mention whether a medical professional has recommended this plan. It is also odd that it only mentions COVID as the danger when there are so many other illnesses that put immunocompromised children at risk. Honestly it reads like a letter from someone who wants COVID restrictions forever, not someone who is concerned about specific children's needs.

Of course it hasn't been recommended by a legitimate medical professional. There are no conditions that make unmasked school unsafe but masked school safe.

I can absolutely see a doctor saying an immunocompromised student will be safer if everyone around them is masked. Does it tip the scales as to whether to send a child to school or not? I think that is a very individual question.

What I question about the plan with regards to safety is cohorting immunocompromised kids together. If OP consulted a medical professional about this she should say so in the letter. Otherwise it raises a lot of questions for the safety of the kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, your letter does not mention whether a medical professional has recommended this plan. It is also odd that it only mentions COVID as the danger when there are so many other illnesses that put immunocompromised children at risk. Honestly it reads like a letter from someone who wants COVID restrictions forever, not someone who is concerned about specific children's needs.

Of course it hasn't been recommended by a legitimate medical professional. There are no conditions that make unmasked school unsafe but masked school safe.

I can absolutely see a doctor saying an immunocompromised student will be safer if everyone around them is masked. Does it tip the scales as to whether to send a child to school or not? I think that is a very individual question.

What I question about the plan with regards to safety is cohorting immunocompromised kids together. If OP consulted a medical professional about this she should say so in the letter. Otherwise it raises a lot of questions for the safety of the kids.

I think the way you phrase this is probably accurate but also raises issues about whether schools would be legally obligated to do it. And if not, I can’t see it happening. This really seems like something a lawyer or legal advocacy group would be best able to address.

As another parent of a kid with special needs, I appreciate OPs perspective and creativity. I hope she can find something that makes her child’s educational journey satisfying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, New covid vaccines are available. You might talk to your doctor about having your child get the new covid vaccine.

It isn't clear that their child is vaccinated in the first place. This information would help us better understand the reality of this situation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, your letter does not mention whether a medical professional has recommended this plan. It is also odd that it only mentions COVID as the danger when there are so many other illnesses that put immunocompromised children at risk. Honestly it reads like a letter from someone who wants COVID restrictions forever, not someone who is concerned about specific children's needs.

Of course it hasn't been recommended by a legitimate medical professional. There are no conditions that make unmasked school unsafe but masked school safe.

I can absolutely see a doctor saying an immunocompromised student will be safer if everyone around them is masked. Does it tip the scales as to whether to send a child to school or not? I think that is a very individual question.

What I question about the plan with regards to safety is cohorting immunocompromised kids together. If OP consulted a medical professional about this she should say so in the letter. Otherwise it raises a lot of questions for the safety of the kids.

There is logical argument for a 20% risk reduction making an unacceptably dangerous situation suddenly acceptable. Particularly for a chronic risk.

[Anonymous]

^^^ There is *no* logical argument, I mean.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^^^ There is *no* logical argument, I mean.

I hear what you are saying. To be fair OP is asking for masking and ventilation and theoretically to share a classroom with children whose families are more likely to be more cautious about illness


The problem is these same children are also more likely than others to be superspreadersdue to their immunocompromised status so that would negate those benefits. Which also highlights that it's highly unlikely OP's child's doctor has reviewed, much less recommended this approach.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I completely understand that this is a rather novel concept and requires a significant amount of creativity, work, and resourcing in order to work. And maybe as a whole it’s not the end solution that can be feasible and acceptable for all involved. But when you have a child that has such a drive to learn and be in school but can’t, because of a genetic condition that makes her particularly vulnerable to Covid, you have to try something. And hopefully, with help from other interested parents, this conversation can go some where and give her the access to a full education that she, and all kids, deserve.

For all the good faith discussion, even those critiquing the idea, I thank you. My end goal isn’t to achieve a particular idea but rather to give her access. So if this idea needs to just be a starting point then so be it.

For all those questioning my motivation and honest plea for help, especially with personal attacks, perhaps your time is better spent reflecting on how you treat the vulnerable among us and less on trying to anonymously tear others down on an Internet forum.

Hello OP. I have older children, so my perspective on this is useless. Nonetheless, I cannot fathom wanting desperately to send my five-year-old to school and feeling that I cannot. I am curious what her medical team says? Does the risk of COVID to her truly outweigh the benefit of in-person schooling? Does her medical team truly believe that there is a risk of severe complications from COVID, even when fully vaccinated? I think answers to those questions may help garner a little more sympathy from other school-aged parents. Everyone was so scared during COVID, but with vaccinations, it is so hard for most of us to understand or believe that the risk is that great anymore. My adult daughter works at a center in NoVa for extremely disabled teens and young adults. Many have genetic conditions and syndromes that do put them at higher risk, but even there they no longer require masks. The importance of communication to these students is just too great. I have no doubt that you have done much of your own research and are doing everything you can to advocate so importantly for your daughter. But have you considered just letting your guard down a bit? Also, I do not believe IDEA includes the word "safe," which you included in your claim earlier in the thread. Of course, safety at school should be implied, but as you know, the act can only do so much.

Well, you're fooling yourself on that score, at least.