How does the Back and Forth School Booklet work?
In the Back and Forth School Booklet child friendly language about the symptoms and how to manage these symptoms is introduced using metaphors: traffic light colours for the amount of pain and Glasses full/half full/empty for their level of energy. With a physiotherapist and/or occupational therapist a personal plan is made on how to deal with painful joints, fatigue and limitations communicate in the school situation. The child is asked about his or her opinions on solutions as well as the teacher and parents. Alternatives for limited activities is written in the booklet on the page with GOOD SOLUTIONS. With the support of parents and teachers, the child develops skills such as dosing, asking for help and pausing.
When can the Back and Forth Booklet be used?
When a young child with juvenile arthritis experience limitations at school and does not show or tell the teachers about it. Also when teachers don’t know well how the help the child managing their symptoms in the school situation. The purpose of the Back and Forth School Booklet is that teachers can take into account the juvenile arthritis and the child can follow the school program as optimally as possible.
Check out the pages of a sample copy of the booklet
These slides feature one week. A normal booklet features three weeks.
Jeannette Cappon is a paediatric physiotherapist, Msc. Since 2002 she is working in a multidisciplinary team for children and youngsters in Reade, Centre for Rehabillitation and Rheumatology, Amsterdam. She is dedicated to advance the care and improve the health and wellbeing of children with rheumatic diseases and many other diagnoses.