AEGiS-06IAC: School aged HIV-infected children and access to education.

6th International AIDS Conference


San Francisco, California, USA — June 20-23, 1990

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School aged HIV-infected children and access to education.

Int Conf AIDS 1990 Jun 20-23; 6:338 (abstract no. Th.D.849)
Haiken H, Hernandez M, Mintz M, Boland M; Children's Hospital of New Jersey, Newark, New Jersey USA

OBJECTIVE: Define the impact of school aged HIV-infected children on school systems in N.J. and the role of care providers in facilitating school entry.

METHODS: In 1986, the N.J. Dept. of Education promulgated regulations supporting school enrollment of children with HIV infection. Children's Hospital AIDS Program (CHAP) provides care to most such children and has a defined procedure to facilitate entry. 40 children aged 6-18 years were classified as to stage of illness, neurodevelopmental status, child study team evaluation, school placement, ease of school enrollment and attendance.

RESULTS: 4 asymptomatic, 14 symptomatic & 22 AIDS (n=40) from 20 school districts met the age criteria. All were able to participate in school during their illness. 16/40 had progressive encephalopathy, 9/40 had static encephalopathy, 12/40 were normal and 3 were not evaluated. 36/40 are currently enrolled (1/40 left school at 18, 3 were too ill). 25/40 did not receive child study team (CST) evaluation. 7/40 were CST classified prior to diagnosis & 8/40 CST classified after diagnosis. 21/40 were in regular classrooms, 7/40 in special ed, 7/40 in special school & 5/40 on home tutoring. For 19/40 the school was informed, 19/40 school was unaware & 6/40 school had "found out" the diagnosis.

CONCLUSION: Children with HIV are surviving and can attend school in regular classrooms. They will require assistance of providers to facilitate entry and some will require child study team evaluation and special education programs to address their needs.

Keywords: AEGIS, Schools, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV Infections, Education, Special, Child Day Care Centers, Program Development, Teaching, Program Evaluation, Child, Aged, Human, education, pathogenicity, ICA6KWDaegis,schools,acquiredimmunodeficiencysyndrome,hivinfections,education,special,childdaycarecenters,programdevelopment,teaching,programevaluation,child,aged,human,education,pathogenicity,ica6

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ThD849

Copyright © 1990 - International AIDS Society (IAS). Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the IAS.