Category Archives: Working with Schools

Introduction Children with rare or undiagnosed conditions – such as narcolepsy – are members of neighborhood schools across the country. School can, and should, be a great place for everyone, including those with unique medical conditions, to access their education. Narcolepsy can affect children differently, and children who have it vary greatly in intelligence, behavior,…

A guide for educators and parents with Essential information for all: School Nurses, School Administrators, Special Education Teams, Parents, Teachers, Students Narcolepsy Symptoms Narcolepsy is caused by the loss of brain cells that produce hypocretin, the chemical that regulates sleeping and waking. Symptoms include: Excessive Day Time Sleepiness (EDS): “recurrent periods of an irresistible need…

Fighting Narcolepsy Stigma in School Coping with people at school who don’t understand narcolepsy is just one example of the stigma facing students living with the condition. Teachers who know how to respond to EDS and cataplexy can improve school morale and safety standards, and influence how fellow students and school staff respond to students…

The following are suggestions. Make changes and medications to fit your situation and find out what works for you. Time management (a) Don’t wait until the last minute and then cram all night. Instead, study every day (two to three hours a day is a suggestion). This way, no late nights or cram sessions, and hopefully better…

The sleepiness brought on by narcolepsy can be debilitating and overwhelming. However, many teens have learned to work with their narcolepsy and found simple things they can do to improve alertness. SOME STRATEGIES  Work with a doctor to optimize the timing and doses of medications. This can help improve alertness across the school day and while studying later. Talk with…