Since bipolar disorder affects all
aspects of a child’s life, it takes a
well-coordinated team of concerned
adults to give the child the best
chance for a full and productive
life. The team might include
parents, teachers, special education
specialists, a guidance counselor,
an adjustment counselor or social
worker, a school psychologist, an
occupational therapist, a speech
therapist, and the school nurse.
The school team should feel
comfortable consulting with the
child’s psychiatrist and/or outside
therapist.
It is critical to work closely with
the child’s family to understand the
symptoms and course of the illness.
Parents should identify patterns in
behavior that could signal a change
in the illness, and help teachers
brainstorm better ways of handling
specific situations. Teachers and
school personnel also need to know
about changes in the child’s home
life or medication in order to work
around them constructively at
school.
At times of transition, the current
or previous year’s teacher needs to
work closely with the new teacher
or team to smooth the way—change
is difficult for any child, but even
more difficult for the child with a
neurological disorder.
Teaming Up to Help the Child
5