Your Child's Rights at School or Work: Family Guide to Your Child's Heart Care

The law clearly states schools must provide access to learning for all children. In fact, success in school may be even more important to some children as a way to make up for physical problems.

Talking to Teachers About Your Child's Heart Disease

When a child has heart disease, they may face some hurdles in school.

Sometimes, teachers don't know how a heart problem affects a child. They may place too many constraints on a child or not allow enough special rights.

Teachers need your help in knowing how heart disease will affect your child in the classroom.

Expanded contact with your child's school is useful for everyone:

• Your child is happier.
• Teachers are more at ease knowing what to expect.
• Parents are content their child is safe, productive, and functioning like other children.

If you have any problems acting as your child's advocate, contact the Heart Institute at UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh.

We can give you resources to help deal with these issues, such as:

• Simple ways to explain your child's heart disease and how it may affect them in school.
• Printed handouts you can give your child's teachers.
• Special instruction sheets to help teachers meet your child's needs.

We want to help your child meet their full potential — both in and out of school.

Supporting Your Child at Work

As your child reaches their teens and young adulthood, their heart disease may affect their job. They may face similar problems in the workplace.

Again, there are laws that protect people with physical problems from discrimination at work.

We can help you or your child find these resources if you need them.

Contact the Heart Institute at UPMC Children's

For the Heart Institute at UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, call 412-692-5540.

Or if you don't live close to Pittsburgh, find UPMC Children's heart care near you.