What You Need to Prepare for a New School Year
PANS PANDAS impacts the physical health of a student and causes psychological, neurological, behavioral, and developmental difficulties.
At the start of a school year, parents of students with PANS PANDAS should schedule a time to meet with their child’s new team, including teachers, therapists, guidance counselors, etc. If the student has a 504 Plan or an Individualized Education Plan (IEP), the Case Manager/ Coordinator and other relevant school personnel will attend the meeting. In addition, if it is appropriate, the student may participate in the meeting.
Be prepared to share the following information:
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- Letter from your child’s healthcare provider, which lists the medical condition, treatment/medication, and recommendations for accommodations/modifications. Do not forget to include provisions for absenteeism if necessary.
- Parent/Student letter – Include how the student’s PANS PANDAS affects their day. Include after-school activities as the school day can impact what happens outside of school.
- Bring copies of the following ASPIRE publications:
- PANS PANDAS in the School Setting Toolkit
- School Nurse Role in PANS PANDAS Toolkit
- PANS PANDAS Provider Toolkit (if they want more medical information)
- Invite school staff to contact ASPIRE for a Virtual School In-Service Lecture program. Bring the flyer
Learn more about PANS PANDAS in the school setting. PANS PANDAS is a medical condition in which symptoms affect a student’s ability to attend school and learn.