Going back to school after blood stem cell transplant

Returning to school is a big step in your child’s life. Your child could go back to school within several months of their transplant. It could also take a year or more. It all depends on the type of transplant and how recovery goes.

No matter when your child goes back to school, there are steps you can take to make their return a little smoother.

Before your child returns to school, you can prepare their teachers, other staff and their classmates by:

• Having your child’s transplant doctor, psychologist or social worker write a letter to explain your child’s situation and request special accommodations from the school system. Send copies of the letter to the principal, teachers and school nurse.
• Meeting with teachers, school nurses and staff members, like the principal or guidance counselor. Tell them about the medicines your child is taking and how it may impact their mood or behavior. Plan what to do if issues come up during the school day.
• Talking to the school about special accommodations your child may need. For example, more time to complete assignments or take tests, more bathroom breaks, using calculators and recorders, or different ways to complete assignments, like providing verbal answers if your child has a hard time writing.

The American Childhood Cancer Organization offers a booklet for parents and teachers called Educating the Child with Cancer: A Guide for Parents and Teachers.

Your child may have mixed emotions about returning to school. They might feel excited, hesitant and self-conscious. One of their worries may be the questions their classmates ask.

You can help your child plan for how to answer questions. Some children and teens like to use a straightforward approach, like, “I was in the hospital and had a transplant to treat a disease. Now the disease is gone. I still wear a mask and take medicine to protect me from germs that could make me sick.”

Depending on your child’s age and personality, they may want to answer these questions or have a teacher or staff member from the school do this. Talk with your child and come up with a plan that they’re comfortable with.

How you help your child adjust will likely depend on their age and school. Here are some starting points:

• Elementary school: Talk to other parents and arrange for your child to spend time with friends. Let other parents know that your child isn’t too sick to play with other healthy, vaccinated kids.
• Junior high school: Your child will naturally want to feel a sense of belonging at school. Ask the staff to help your child participate in activities in and out of the classroom as safely as possible.
• High school: Your teen may want to connect with peers, but also find a unique identity. Support your teen by encouraging safe choices and healthy connections.

Remember to check in with your child to see how they’re adjusting. Maybe it’s talking during dinner or a car ride or asking them to “rate their day.” Check in with your child’s teachers and counselors, too.

There are many reasons why a child or teen may not want to go to school. Talk to your child to learn what’s going on. Knowing the cause will help you find a solution.

For example, if your child has trouble concentrating or lacks energy to get through the school day, talk to the school about easing back into the routine. You may want to try shorter days or home tutoring for a while.

If bullying is happening, talk to the teachers and principal right away for help in stopping the bullying behavior. Remember, you are your child’s advocate. Insist on what’s best for your child.  StopBullying.gov or pacer.org/bullying offer tips on how to address bullying.

After transplant, your child may need special services at school. For children in K-12, these special services are typically part of an Individual Education Program (IEP) or 504 Plan.

An IEP is a legal document that explains your child’s needs, the special services the school will provide and how the school will measure your child’s progress.

The program is handled the same way in every school district. An IEP requires an evaluation by a professional, like a school psychologist, to see if your child qualifies for special services.

A 504 Plan is a document that explains services your child will receive but it’s not as detailed as the IEP. Each school district can handle a 504 Plan in a different way.

A 504 Plan also requires an evaluation by a professional, like a school psychologist, to see if your child qualifies for special services. The school can gather information from many sources, like what you and your child’s teachers have observed, a doctor’s diagnosis and the results of an IEP evaluation, if one was done.

Talk to your child’s teacher or school staff to learn more about IEPs and 504 Plans and to schedule an evaluation. Ask your transplant center social worker for help getting any required documents. To learn more about special education services, talk with the social worker at your child’s transplant center or go to ed.gov/contact-us/state-contacts to find contacts for the Department of Education in your state.

Your child may or may not be ready to take on a full class load when going back to college. Reassure them that’s okay. They may need to ease back into things just like people who are going back to work.

Before starting the next college semester, encourage your child to:

• Meet with the school’s disabilities office or academic services to learn about the resources available.
• Meet with a professor in their area of interest or major and ask for their support. They may be able to give advice and be your child’s advocate if needed.
• Talk with each professor before classes start or soon after. Work with the professors to set reasonable accommodations for completing assignments.

The National Children’s Cancer Society offers educational resources, including the Beyond the Cure Ambassador Scholarship program. The program provides college scholarships to childhood cancer survivors.

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