When a child is sick and home from school, catching up can be difficult. One in three American children has some form of chronic illness, ranging from allergies to asthma to cancer. For those with severe disease, their illness often poses a significant roadblock to education. Creating a normal educational environment is key in promoting the emotional health of the child and the family.

Integrating health care with a normal lifestyle, including school, often creates a significant challenge. The health care system often acts as an important interface between the school and a family dealing with chronic illness. Parents may approach teachers and school officials, but often a child's unique circumstances will necessitate communication between the school and the medical caregiver. Frequent issues to resolve include mechanisms for making assignments and lessons available to students when they cannot attend, modifications in course requirements for class completion and adaptations in the curriculum to make academic success possible.

Often the parent and school develop a relationship that allows these issues to be readily addressed. Sometimes, however, additional intervention will be required to achieve the best and fairest school plan for the student. Pediatricians and pediatric specialists are frequently called upon to advocate for an ill child. Some specialty clinics that regularly care for such children will provide educational specialists who repeatedly meet with teachers and other school-based team members on a child's behalf.

Children with a chronic or life-threatening medical condition may be eligible for a 504 Plan that can be individualized for each student and provides for appropriate accommodations and modifications. A 504 typically can be set up with input from teachers, parents and a school official. If the child's illness results in a significant learning disability, an Individualized Education Plan can be created. Children whose educational performance is significantly affected by their illness may be designated Other Health Impaired and also qualify for an IEP. Parents of children with an IEP work with the special education system to establish the educational plan and determine what additional teachers, therapists and services are required.

Finally, for students who cannot attend school due to their illness, home-bound instruction is available with regular in-home tutoring and provision of all necessary textbooks, lessons and other materials.

School may look different for a child with a serious disease, but for families battling for some form of normalcy, successful education is always a hope that sustains them.

Dr. Rob Hanson is a pediatric oncologist and hematologist with St. John's Mercy Children's Hospital and Cardinal Kids Cancer Center. Visit stjohnsmercychildrenshospital.org or call 314-364-3825.