By Sandra DiFelice
School is a part of every child’s life. During their academic years, students deal with so many different facets of growth and development—physical, cognitive, emotional, and social. Having a chronic illness on top of the regular day-to-day stressors of being a student can be an enormous burden and challenge.
Here’s a startling truth: Canada has one of the highest rates of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in the world. Approximately one in 150 Canadians lives with IBD, an umbrella term for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Unfortunately, rates of IBD have been rising, particularly amongst children under the age of 10, meaning students with these unpredictable, painful, and potentially embarrassing diseases are increasingly present in our classrooms.
Sandra DiFelice is a Vice Principal in the Halton District School Board.
