Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America, Inc.

Today’s June Awareness Tip is for parents: School Issues: Informal discussions with the school, a Modification Plan under Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act or an Individualized Education Plan under Federal Law 108-446 are different ways that a child’s daily school schedule can be changed in response to medical needs. Many things can be done, as needed, to support the education of children with myasthenia gravis. These include: altering PE requirements (modified PE or temporary or long term exclusion), late starts, use of elevators between floors, transportation to school, allowing additional time between classes, providing a second set of books to be kept at home to prevent heavy backpacks that cannot be carried from affecting schoolwork, changing the number of repetitions of math problems, allowing computer access for classroom work or testing, changing nutrition/lunch times, providing OT/PT/Speech therapy as necessary to allow children to benefit from their education. All or none of these modifications may be appropriate for an individual child with myasthenia gravis.