How can a childs muscle weakness affect school participation?
The child’s muscle weakness may be visible in a variety of ways such as the manner in which he walks, uses leg braces or uses a wheelchair. However, the rate at which this muscle weakness progresses and the loss of functioning that results will vary from year to year or month to month. Therefore, it is important to notice changes in a child’s ability to do various activities. Potential obstacles in school include: difficulty in taking notes quickly or for a long period of time, slowness or inability to get ready for class (lifting a book and opening it to the correct page, getting out a pencil and paper, etc.), need for assistance with toileting, and inability to rise from a seated position on the floor or in a chair to a standing position. The most effective way of determining the limits of a child’s physical abilities is to discuss them sensitively and openly with the child and parents. Contact with medical staff who are familiar with the child can also provide such information. It c
