Supporting Children with Medical Needs in School: Aflac's Family Support Team
Starting a new school year can pose challenges for both children and parents, especially when a child has a medical condition that requires special accommodations. Emily Brannon, an educational advocate and hospital teacher at the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, strives to make this transition as smooth as possible. Emily recently met with the parents of a child with sickle cell disease who were worried about their son's entry into kindergarten. They wanted to ensure that the school staff were informed about his medical requirements.
According to Brannon, "I arranged a meeting with the school principal, the kindergarten teacher, and the child's parents. During this meeting, we provided informative materials about sickle cell disease and discussed the specific needs of the child and his family. Schools have established protocols for students with medical conditions, and through my advocacy efforts and the parents' input, the school was able to offer the necessary support and accommodations as the child began his elementary school journey."
Emily is a valuable member of the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center's family support team, which relies entirely on donor funding. In early 2023, the Aflac Foundation contributed $1.5 million to bolster the family support team's efforts in delivering essential services. Every day, Emily and her fellow teachers collaborate with families to help them navigate the challenges of the school system. Brannon explained,
"The school system can be overwhelming, and when a child has a medical diagnosis, educational tasks can appear daunting. The most rewarding part of our work is witnessing the relief on parents' faces when we step in to shoulder certain responsibilities and offer solutions."
If you'd like to contribute, the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center's family support team maintains a wish list, allowing donors to identify the team's most pressing needs. Donors can purchase items directly from the wish list, and these items will be shipped directly to the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center.
Please note that in this context, "Aflac" refers to the American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus and the American Family Life Assurance Company of New York.
According to Brannon, "I arranged a meeting with the school principal, the kindergarten teacher, and the child's parents. During this meeting, we provided informative materials about sickle cell disease and discussed the specific needs of the child and his family. Schools have established protocols for students with medical conditions, and through my advocacy efforts and the parents' input, the school was able to offer the necessary support and accommodations as the child began his elementary school journey."
Emily is a valuable member of the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center's family support team, which relies entirely on donor funding. In early 2023, the Aflac Foundation contributed $1.5 million to bolster the family support team's efforts in delivering essential services. Every day, Emily and her fellow teachers collaborate with families to help them navigate the challenges of the school system. Brannon explained,
"The school system can be overwhelming, and when a child has a medical diagnosis, educational tasks can appear daunting. The most rewarding part of our work is witnessing the relief on parents' faces when we step in to shoulder certain responsibilities and offer solutions."
If you'd like to contribute, the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center's family support team maintains a wish list, allowing donors to identify the team's most pressing needs. Donors can purchase items directly from the wish list, and these items will be shipped directly to the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center.
Please note that in this context, "Aflac" refers to the American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus and the American Family Life Assurance Company of New York.
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