Individuals with Crohn's disease face challenges everyday due to their disability, but they are not the only ones who face challenges. There are also challenges and issues that are faced by their families, especially if the patient is a child with Crohn's disease. There are issues related to the symptoms Crohn's disease patients can have. For example in societal areas, like school and work settings. As well as accommodation for children in the classroom.
Challenges and Solutions
One of the biggest challenges individuals with Cronh's disease is regaining normality back. (Jiayin and Yunxian, 2019) Receiving a diagnoses of Crohn's disease can be shocking and hard to take in at first. This is because those with Crohn's disease have to make changes in their life to accommodate the disease as well as be more careful in everyday activities. In other words Regaining normality is referring to reassessing and reconstructing the self after receiving a Crohn's disease diagnosis. (Jiayin and Yunxian, 2019) In order to go back to normality for individuals in this situation counseling may be a part of this plan. Some individuals have a harder time than others with the diagnosis and that is okay. Therapy will help Crohn's disease patients get through the emotions and/or feelings that may come along with the diagnosis. They will also help the individuals get through the process with a positive outlook and help make sure they are getting the healthcare they need. Individuals who have Crohn's disease have the challenge everyday of all the symptoms that come along with their disease. For example they have to watch what they eat to not set off inflammation in their intestines. They also have to try not to stress or have anxiety because this can also cause inflammation. Almost everything they do can effect their Crohn's disease making it an everyday challenge. The best way to get through this is to learn your body everyone is different and can handle different situations. Having a support system is another help in this situation. A support system can help individuals with Crohn's disease to not feel alone in this process.
Challenges and Issues for Family Members
The most challenging part related to family members would be the parents of children with Crohn's disease. Not only does the parent have to comprehend that their child has this disease but they also have to help the child understand and get through it. (Marini & Stebnicki, 2018) In this situation the childs disability can negatively effect family and social relationships and the caregivers employment. (Marini & Stebnicki, 2018) For example if the child is in school but has many accidents due to their Crohn's disease mom or dad may have to leave work often. The amount of times they have to leave may cause them to get fired. The child being diagnosed with Crohn's disease could also add stress and physical and emotional health risk for the parents and their families. In this situation with Crohn's disease the stressor for the parents would mainly be sending them to school and hoping they get through the day and do not have an accident or do not get a hard time from other students. There are theories that suggest the challenges parents face are often associated with a lack of environmental receptivity. (Marini & Stebnicki, 2018)
Issues in Societal Areas and Solutions
When talking about Crohn's disease the main issue relates to the children with the disease and schools. There is not enough education for others to know about Crohn's disease and for others to know it is not curable and its hard on the individual who has it. An issue for students with Crohn's disease was their grades and some have to repeat a grade. The low grades were due to missing school for reasons related to their Crohn's disease. (Timmer, 2018) In a study done in Germany students with Crohn's disease avoided using the bathroom at school, this could lead to absence because they wanted to go home to use the bathroom. A solution for this is making sure there are clean bathrooms for the students. (Timmer, 2018) Another solution could be homeschooling the child if the parents are able. When a child has to miss days to weeks at a time due to Crohn's disease having a tutor that could come to their house to help catch them up on their assignments could help them to not have to do the whole year again. It is a tough situation because it is not the childs fault they have to miss school but they also need to get their education and grades in order to move on to the next grade.
Mainstreaming the Child/Adolescent
Children with Crohn's disease are given the same opportunities as the other students, but they are allowed special accommodation's to allow them to feel comfortable. For example they are allowed take home test and work if they are to ill to attend school or hospitalized due to Crohn's disease. They also have food and beverage accommodations, they are allowed breaks throughout the day. They also have physical education adjustments to make sure they are safe but also can participate with other kids. (Crohn's and Colitis Foundation, 2022) As parents of a child they are able to advocate for their child, this involves having a meeting with the childs education team and educating them about Crohn's disease and how it may affect them at school. Parents should help their child by giving them tools that will allow them to begin managing their Crohn's disease on their own.(Crohn's and Colitis Foundation, 2022) This will set them up for greater success. below is a great link that gives a lot of information of how to help a child who is in school with IBD.
https://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/youth-parent-resources/kids/taking-ibd-to-school
Societal Awareness and Accommodations
below is a link to a video that explains a 504 plan. This is a plan that can help a child be accommodated in school due to their Crohn's disease.
https://youtu.be/8B_-1ZPbw1g
Reference:
Jiayin Ruan ad Yunxian Zhou, (2019). Regaining normality: A grounded theory study of the illness experiences of Chinese patients living with Crohn's disease. https://eds-p-ebscohost-com.bakerezproxy.palnet.info/eds/detail/detail?vid=7&sid=20433ab0-bf8d-4ee1-8c22-caf7834eebb7%40redis&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmU%3d#AN=S0020748919300562&db=edselp
Irmo Marini & Mark A. Stebnicki, (2018). The Psychological and social impacts of illness and disability. Pg. 224-225
Dr. Antje Timmer, (2018). School-related experience and performance with inflammatory bowel disease: result from a cross-sectional survey in 675 children and their parents. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6254744/
Crohn's and Colitis Foundation, (2022). Taking IBD to School, https://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/youth-parent-resources/kids/taking-ibd-to-school
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