17 Oct Supporting Students with Chronic Health Conditions Excel in School
Brooklyn Letters
1139 Prospect Avenue, Brooklyn
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We would highly recommend Ally! Our son always asks about her, so very thankful to Brooklyn Letters for introducing us.
~ Emily, mom of Brooklyn 2 year old -
Nicole has been an amazing therapist!! She played a tremendous role in our daughter’s speech progress and overall development. She has come such a long way and we are so happy with the therapy she received!
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I cannot express how grateful and rewarding my experience with Brooklyn Letters has been. Her tutor Ms. Daria is so knowledgeable, amazing, kind and awesome. My daughter has made so much progress in Literacy and Math and it's all … More thanks to Ms. Daria. I know my daughter is sad that she can no longer work with Ms. Daria, as she looked forward to their sessions every week. Thank you again!
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Excellent services, caring therapists.
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Christina was absolutely wonderful. She went out of her way to win my son over and it worked. He looked forward to her visits and his speech improved so much under her care. She was super flexible and it’s clear she truly cares. We adore … More Christina and we’re going to miss her. Almost sad he improved so much! She’s simply amazing and we can’t say enough how great she is. I would recommend her services to anyone and everyone, without hesitation. Thank you so much for connecting us with her!
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We could not be happier with the services Valerie provided! She is very thoughtful and knowledgeable and provided significant guidance to support our daughter's speech development outside of our scheduled sessions. She established … More a great working relationship with her, and she will definitely be missed! Your business model is amazing and it was an absolute pleasure working with Valerie. I've referred your organization and Valerie to the Executive Director of our daughter's school and friends/colleagues who are in need of speech therapy services.
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We cannot say enough good things about Effie, the ASL teacher, who was so engaged and effective with our 2 year old daughter from the very first session! Effie gladly included our whole family in the sessions! Her expertise and fantastic … More personality gave our daughter a way to communicate that she was so desperately seeking. The coordinators at Brooklyn Letters were so helpful and communicative…I would highly recommend their services!
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The company is great with outstanding customer service. They keep my horses protected. I have recommended them to other horses trainers as well that are going to get service early next year. Very professional an honest too. Respectfully … More submitted Christopher
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Ron and Ken did a fantastic job with our security system today. Installed everything very quick. Both of them were very polite and asked us throughout if the installation met our needs. Simply fantastic!
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I called Cornerstone Protection to get a Security system at a relatives out of state property, within a week it was installed! The installers worked with the client to help understand her new system and she was happy! Our relative said … More they were courteous, professional and patient! I highly recommend Cornerstone Protection for all of your security needs!
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Had blink cameras; Car was broken into multiple times so I called CornerStone & they were able to install multiple cameras very quickly & for a reasonable price. I am so happy with the app & getting alerts that are not superfluous, … More like they were with Blink. Highly recommend CornerStone & the tech Ronnie.
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Ron and Ken are great guys to work with.
Both were very knowledgeable and got our system back up and running.
Thanks to both for a job well done... -
Samantha Dalmas was fantastic! We saw her for a feeding therapy evaluation and while she doesn’t think my daughter needs more feeding therapy sessions at this time, but she gave me lots of tips to try. If my daughter's doctors want … More to see more progress at her next appointment, I wouldn’t hesitate to reach out to Samantha again.
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Amazing assistance provided by Shannon today on my security system. I’m so grateful for your prompt, efficient, professional, and courteous service. Put me down as a customer for life!
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One of the most painless experiences I've had. They came on time and was over the moon professional with still keeping a level of personability to it. The gentleman also went out of his way to say that my husband and Mines business … More was appreciated. Which is actually rare to be appreciated by such a great company. So thank you and we look forward to continuing services with this company.
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I am so happy we decided to go with cornerstone. They were quick and efficient. Shannon and the installer we very friendly. We got a lot of equipment and it was still within our budget. 10/10 would definitely recommend! Thank you
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Love the customer service and Shanon and his team go above and beyond for my restaurant. Couldn't of asked for a better security system and level of service that his team provides.
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I have been using Cornerstone Protection service for over 5 years and I'm really happy with the service and state-of-the-art equipments and it's futures are so much in advance and friendly, I highly recommend Cornerstone Protection … More Service any and all business that need a security protection days and nights specially after business hours(Cornerstone Protection is perfect solution for your business). Owner of Cornerstone Protection is proactive with their customers and their equipments. Good experienced with Cornerstone Protection!!!
Kanu Patel -
We had a very positive experience with Alissa as a tutor for our pod of 5th grade boys from January - June 2020. She cared a lot about the boys and worked hard to create meaningful activities for them. The pod experience was invaluable … More for all of our families during a difficult year and we were so grateful to have found this partnership! We also want to appreciate Craig for helping to match us with a tutor on very short notice after we had cycled through a few folks who were not able to see the commitment through. Thanks for sticking with us!
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Dusty was the exact person we needed to help our child finish out the school year. So grateful to him for the way he steadily encouraged her and helped her stay on track and organized. He is flexible, responsive to our needs/schedule as … More a family, and a delight to be with. We are also thankful that Craig at Themba Tutors really "gets it" and partnered us with such a wonderful tutor who was a great fit for our girl.
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My child worked with Gillian D virtually for math enrichment. She is an excellent teacher. She took time to understand my child's specific learning style and provided tools that would be engaging. She was kind and empathetic- really … More made it her goal to connect with my child and build trust and rapport. My child started the school year with confidence and without the typically "brain-drain" that occurs over the summer, thanks to Gillian.
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I am going into my second year as a Themba tutor. I have met so many great individuals while working for this company. Craig and the rest of the Themba team do such an excellent job picking and choosing Themba tutors that suit each client's … More individual needs! I look forward to meeting new tutors and clients in the 2021-2022 school year!
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Our son started in a new high school, 100% remote, and was really struggling with Latin and Physics. I found Themba Tudors online and had an initial call with Craig, who was very knowledgeable, responsive, and found 2 amazing tutors for … More us. Both the Latin and the physics tutors were fantastic, connected with my son really well and helped him go from 'failing' grade to 'honors'! I will for sure continue using (and recommending!) Themba Tutors. Thank you, C, K, and W!
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Brian is a fantastic executive functioning coach. Super helpful, flexible with hours, and tailored the experience to our needs.
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Giulia Mercuri is a great Italian tutor! She was very responsive and accessible. Giulia put a ton of effort into preparing for each session and really helped our son with test preparation and projects. We are grateful that she was able … More to help, especially since our son did not receive any live teaching during COVID. We are happy that she was referred to us!
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As an adult student diagnosed with a learning disability during grad school, I knew I needed help dealing with my Master's program's demanding workload. I was seriously considering dropping out when I was referred to Themba Tutors. … More I was paired up with a wonderful tutor, Julie, who was a total lifesaver. I learned many techniques that I can utilize in the future as I embark on the next phase of my career.
I can wholeheartedly say after working with Themba for two years that I would not have finished my program without this organization. And I am so thankful I selected them. -
We were introduced to a wonderful tutor: Mcedwyn. He and our son, a freshman in college, worked well together. As a result, our son’s grades significantly improved. The tutor taught our son subject content and various methods to effectively … More study for quizzes and exams. Our son was also taught time management and organization. My son’s experience with the tutor made the first year of college a less intimidating experience.
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We have been with our tutor, Cailin Schiller, for two years, from 5th - 7th grade. She started as an executive functioning tutor with my daughter. From the start, she demonstrated a depth of expertise and a selective use of techniques skillfully … More adapted to my daughter’s ADHD and Math disability. Cailin made Math accessible and understandable to her in a way that even her teachers had not been able to do. She differentiated reading, writing and math tasks and assignments to tailor them to my daughter’s unique learning differences. Not only did it have an effect on her grades and her work efficiency, but she finally could do her work with less anxiety. Even my daughter’s teachers used Cailin’s guidance to modify their work with her. But most importantly, she became my daughter’s favorite resource. I can’t say how invaluable Cailin has been to my daughter’s progress and well-being. I’d recommend her a million times over. She is a gem.
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Victoria is a superb tutor. She helped my high school age daughter with her writing. Victoria's skills as a tutor, as well as her sense of humor and her engaging personality went a long way with my daughter.
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Themba Tutors provided a leaning specialist that was a perfect fit for my daughter. I told them what we were looking for and they delivered. Our tutor is responsive and flexible and makes it easy for my daughter to reach out to her own … More her own, which gives her an added sense of responsibility over her learning. As a therapist myself, I now regularly recommend Themba to my patients. A much needed and well provided service to the community!!
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The tutors at Themba are fantastic! Caitlyn McNeill helped our son academically, but also with getting organized in every subject, which he so desperately needed. She offered great advice and useful strategies that helped our son become … More a more successful student. We are using Themba tutors again this year for our daughter. We're so happy to have been referred to them!
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I'm so glad we were referred to Themba Tutors. After a great initial conversation to learn our needs, we were connected with an excellent tutor, Felicia, who is helping our high school daughter learn better organizational and executive … More skills. Highly recommended.
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We had a wonderful experience with our tutor Micaela. She helped our son not only academically but at every level. We will be forever grateful to have her in our lives.
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The tutors at Themba are fantastic! Caitlyn McNeill helped our son academically, but also with getting organized in every subject, which he so desperately needed. She offered great advice and useful strategies that helped our son become … More a more successful student. We are using Themba tutors again this year for our daughter. We're so happy to have been referred to them!
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Paul Smith at Themba has been an exceptional tutor for my son, both in terms of teaching the subject matter and teaching how best to approach the process of learning math and executing assignments. We feel very fortunate to be working with … More Paul.
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We were very lucky to have found Edwouine Swift, my son's therapist through Themba Tutors. Thomas is 12 years old, and it is extremely difficult to get him to write. Edwouine just works her magic with him, he adores her and is so … More eager to follow her guidance. I have no doubt she will be a positive driving force in his academic future.
SUPPORTING STUDENTS WITH CHRONIC HEALTH CONDITIONS IN SCHOOL
For students managing chronic health conditions, school can be both a challenge and an opportunity. Balancing medical appointments, treatments, and daily academics requires a careful approach from parents, teachers, and support staff.
A JAMA Network study concludes that the prevalence of chronic conditions in American children has increased over the years. Between 2011 and 2023, the proportion of 3- to 17-year-olds with a chronic condition increased from 39.9% to 45.7% in PEDSnet. In the general population, it increased from 25.8% to 31.0%.
During this period, rates of obesity, early menstruation, sleep problems, activity limitations, physical symptoms, depression, and loneliness all rose. Children facing ongoing health issues often experience interruptions in learning, missed classroom time, and social stress. All of these can affect both academic performance and emotional well-being.
Understanding how to support these students is essential for ensuring they remain engaged and successful in their educational journey.
Understanding the Unique Challenges
Chronic health conditions vary widely, from asthma and diabetes to more complex medical needs such as the use of medical devices. Students may require accommodations, extra time for assignments, or assistance navigating physical limitations within the school environment.
Families often find themselves advocating for their child to ensure that teachers, administrators, and classmates understand the challenges the student faces.
In some cases, students also have to rely on medical devices. For instance, students suffering from long-term kidney problems, cancer, etc., require a port catheter for quick intravenous access. However, using such medical devices can also present unique challenges, as seen with the port catheter lawsuit.
According to TorHoerman Law, several victims have filed lawsuits alleging problems with design defects. Patients have experienced breakage of the device, leading to fracturing, migration, deep vein thrombosis, etc.
Such situations can create additional stress for both parents and children. The additional health conditions can prevent children from focusing on their studies. On the other hand, parents must manage the legal process alongside ensuring their child’s academic continuity and emotional support.
Creating a Supportive Environment
Teachers and school staff play a critical role in supporting students with chronic conditions. A flexible approach to attendance, understanding the need for rest or breaks during the day, and accommodating medical appointments are all essential strategies.
Establishing open communication between the family and the school ensures that any sudden health changes or treatment schedules do not negatively impact learning outcomes.
Students with chronic health issues may feel isolated due to absences or physical limitations. Encouraging inclusion, fostering empathy among classmates, and providing opportunities for social engagement can help students feel more connected.
A meta-review published in Frontiers Journal analyzed 24 scientific articles to explore strategies teachers can use to support students facing illness, grief, and death. Six key themes emerged, which were:
- Using schools as transformative spaces
- Normalizing illness and bereavement
- Addressing the needs of students with limiting illnesses and their peers
- Identifying challenges and needs
- Rethinking classroom interventions
- Leveraging technology and training
The review highlights the role of tools such as AI, social robotics, and remote learning in helping students participate and progress academically. It also offers practical recommendations to equip teachers with effective support strategies.
Integrating Academic Support and Health Needs
Tutoring, executive function coaching, and personalized study plans can be highly effective for students who must balance complex medical needs with their academic responsibilities. Tailoring assignments to account for energy levels and cognitive fluctuations can help students maintain progress without feeling overwhelmed.
In addition, teaching self-advocacy skills enables students to communicate their needs and participate actively in managing both their health and learning. Parents and caregivers can collaborate with educators to implement accommodations such as extended deadlines, access to remote learning tools, or modified classroom activities.
According to a meta-review published on the NCBI website, education support showed some evidence of improving school engagement. However, results for academic achievement were mixed.
One small study indicated a possible positive effect on school transition, but with very low certainty. Mental health, measured as self-esteem, improved in the two studies that assessed it, with low certainty of evidence.
These strategies help students keep up academically and reduce the stress that comes with trying to meet traditional expectations while managing chronic conditions.
Promoting Emotional Well-Being Alongside Academic Support
Addressing a student’s emotional well-being is just as important as supporting their academic progress. Chronic health conditions can cause anxiety, stress, or feelings of isolation, which may affect motivation and focus in school.
Teachers and parents can help students by creating a predictable routine, offering reassurance, and validating their feelings. Peer support groups or mentorship programs can provide social connection and reduce loneliness. Encouraging mindfulness exercises, journaling, or relaxation techniques can also help students manage stress.
It is also important for educators and parents to maintain open communication about any medical challenges the student may be facing. Understanding these stressors allows adults to provide targeted emotional support and flexibility in academic expectations. Creating a safe space for students to express concerns ensures they feel heard, supported, and empowered to engage fully in their education.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How can parents advocate for their child without overstepping teacher responsibilities?
Parents can provide medical documentation, communicate regularly about their child’s needs, and collaborate on realistic accommodations. Clear, respectful communication ensures teachers understand the student’s limitations while maintaining professional boundaries. This partnership fosters a supportive environment that balances academic expectations with health considerations.
2. Can extracurricular activities be adapted for students with chronic health conditions?
Yes, schools can modify sports, clubs, and arts programs to accommodate physical or energy limitations. For example, participation can be adapted with shorter sessions, alternative roles, or virtual options. Involvement in extracurriculars helps students maintain social interaction, self-confidence, and a sense of normalcy despite health challenges.
3. What role can school counselors play in supporting students with chronic illnesses?
School counselors can serve as advocates, emotional support, and liaisons between teachers, parents, and healthcare providers. They can help students develop coping strategies, manage anxiety related to illness, and create individualized academic plans. Counselors also facilitate peer support programs and promote inclusion within the classroom environment.
Supporting students with chronic health conditions is not only about managing immediate challenges; it is also about cultivating long-term resilience. By recognizing each child’s strengths, celebrating achievements, and providing consistent emotional support, families and schools can help students develop confidence and independence.
Encouraging involvement in extracurricular activities, hobbies, or peer support groups can provide a sense of normalcy and accomplishment. Ultimately, the goal is to create a comprehensive support system that considers all medical, academic, and social needs. When families, educators, and healthcare providers work together, students with chronic health conditions can thrive and achieve both academic success and personal growth.
Craig Selinger
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