Attending school with a blood or bleeding disorder involves communicating with school staff and educators about your disorder and how to manage it. When you know what and how to share about your chronic condition with those at school, you can feel more empowered to advocate for your needs. Engaging and communicating with school staff and educators will help everyone feel confident about making your learning environment a place where you can thrive. 

This section of Step Up will cover:  

Tips on Engaging with School Faculty and Staff

Engaging Faculty and Staff in Postsecondary Education

Resources to Give School Teachers and Staff

Tips on Engaging with School Faculty and Staff

A big piece of gaining independence and advocating for yourself is educating people at your school about your bleeding or blood disorder. This allows everyone to understand how to best help you on a daily basis and in case of emergency.  

The ‘Who’, ‘What’ and ‘When’ of Engaging and Sharing: 

When starting the school year or changing to a new school, reach out to share information about your bleeding or blood disorder, treatment, and accommodations. Here are some tips: 

  • Arrange to meet with any relevant school staff, including academic, health services, athletic, recreational, and administration staff members.  
  • Explain the basics of your bleeding or blood disorder. This may include what it is, common sites of bleeding, signs or symptoms of a bleed, medicine taken, what to do if there is a bleed, when to call a health care provider, or when to go the emergency room.) 
  • Give the school a detailed list of who to contact in the event of an emergency. 
  • Explain when the school should contact your parents or caregivers in the event of a bleed at school so you can arrange treatment. 
  • Inform school staff that you will notify them if you need to avoid or modify physical activity.  
  • Talk about being safe when physically active and proper protective equipment. Explain the importance of exercise for strong and healthy joints. 
  • For high school, talk to the school about storing your bleeding or blood disorder medication and equipment in the health services center if you treat at school. You can also give clear instructions if you need to take pain medicine during school hours. Explain to school staff that certain pain medications prolong bleeding time, so you will only use ones approved by your doctor and can provide them if needed.  
  • For college, if needed, discuss any accommodations you may need to ensure you can store your medication and supplies safely in your dorm or campus housing (refrigerator, etc.) 
  • Let the school know how you want to disclose your disorder. If you wish to disclose yourself, ask that school staff do not make a general announcement. It is your decision who to tell and what you want to share about your disorder. 

Continuing to engage:   

Engaging with your school doesn’t stop after you have shared information in the beginning of the year. It is a constant process. There will be times when you want to talk with school staff. You may want to reach out if you must miss school because of your bleeding disorder, need a new or revised accommodation, or if you want information about your educational progress. 

Here are some additional tips to keep in mind:  

  • Be proactive. Keep open lines of communication with your teachers, coaches, and school administrators.   

  • Ask questions. Don’t hesitate to have your teacher and staff provide a clearer explanation of anything you don’t understand 

  • Maintain communication with your Individualized Education Program (IEP) team which will ensure that your academic and social needs are being met 

For more information on preparing for field trips and extracurricular activities go here.

For more information on transitioning to a new school go here.

For more information on accommodations go here.

Engaging Faculty and Staff in Postsecondary Education

Many of the tips above can apply to engaging faculty and staff in education after high school. It is important to learn about how your college or vocational school is set up and what accommodations are available. 

For more information about living with a bleeding disorder beyond high school go to Disclosure and  Life on Campus.

For more information about living with a bleeding disorder beyond high school go to Vocational Training.

For more information about accommodations go to Your Rights: Legislation and School Accommodations.

Resources to Give School Teachers and Staff

In addition to speaking directly with your child’s school, it is also helpful to provide resources to teachers and staff. These resources can help staff understand your child’s bleeding or blood disorder and how to care for them when they are at school. Here are some helpful handouts and videos to pass along to your child’s school: