Articles

Young people with chronic illness or accident trauma often miss schooling due to hospitalisation, lengthy outpatient visits or time spent unwell at home. These individuals tend nevertheless to be articulate, knowledgeable and capable, and keen to establish and maintain everyday personal identities. The Keeping Connected project has recently investigated the experiences and needs of young people with chronic health problems, through case studies of 31 individuals. Researchers also interviewed parents, health professionals and educators from schools across Victoria who have dealt with the chronically ill young people. The article draws out a number of implications for schools from the research.