Children with disability in school and community settings — formative SAQs

SAQ 1 (10 marks)

Parents of an 8-year-old with cerebral palsy ask for a school letter. The child walks with a walker, needs toileting help, and has an emergency seizure plan. ^[2]

1. List the essential elements of a useful school medical letter. (4) ^[2]
2. Outline three participation supports you would discuss with the school. (3) ^{[2] [3]}
3. State two emergency-preparedness actions beyond writing the diagnosis. (3) ^[6]

Model answer

Letter elements: plain functional description; school-day risks; specific supports; medication/emergency steps; contacts; review date. Avoid diagnosis-only dumps and education-law rulings. ^[2]

Supports examples: accessible toileting assistance; rest/fatigue plan; playground access and transfer help; seating/positioning; communication of seizure first-aid plan to relief staff. ^{[2] [3]}

Emergency actions: up-to-date individual emergency plan or emergency information form content; trained staff identified; medication access; parent/medical-home contacts. ^[6]