First publication for children with brain tumours launched
BTSNZ trustee Moira Coatsworth with the newly published education guide
In 2021, Brain Tumour Support NZ founder Mandy Bathan began work to expand the charity’s support services to include children and their families affected by brain tumours. Mandy and trustee Moira Coatsworth heard parents’ messages about the challenges of returning home after hospital and particularly going back to school.
“When families told us how hard returning to school could be, I made the education guide for children and teenagers in Aotearoa a priority” explains Moira, a former child psychologist and parent of brain tumour survivor, Kate.
“Now we are excited to launch Supporting students with brain tumours, a guide for New Zealand teachers and families - our first guide written about children with brain tumours.”
The guide has been written for school and early childhood leaders, specialist teachers, teachers and support staff unfamiliar with teaching children with brain tumours, and also for students and their families. It is available to download here or by emailing hi@braintumoursupport.org.nz.
Some important topics covered in the guide include:
Providing support at diagnosis
Returning to school or early childhood centre -planning and adapting the programme
Detailed tables of possible physical, social, emotional and cognitive effects and strategies that help in schools and centres.
Current education specialists provided input so there are valuable up-to-date links to further in-depth New Zealand resources to help teachers and families with specific issues.
The education guide has already received positive reviews, including from the mother of 10-year old Mila, one of the first recipients of the guide, who wrote: “I loved the education guide! As this is all still new territory for us, this guide will serve as a help to me and her teachers as Mila transitions slowly back to school.”
When families of newly diagnosed children or teenagers with brain tumours order a Brain Box for Kids they find it includes two copies of the education guide -one for the family and one to pass on to the school.
The education guide and the Brain Box for Kids are part of a suite of resources which Brain Tumour Support NZ is rolling out for families impacted by childhood brain tumours. This work is generously supported by leading Australasian footwear company FRANKiE4.