Education Liaison improves implementation of school accommodations for students with sickle cell disease

Children with sickle cell disease (SCD) have lower academic attainment than healthy peers. Many benefit from neuropsychological testing (NPT) and educational accommodations, including Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and Section 504 plans (504s). Despite medical barriers to academic attainment, many children with SCD do not receive indicated NPT or accommodations.

We hypothesize that a dedicated Education Liaison (EL) embedded in the SCD team increases implementation of NPT and accommodations.

This retrospective study included children aged 5-20 years with SCD receiving care at a single center from 2017 through 2020. Univariate analysis and multiple logistic regression were performed.

Total 316 children with SCD were included. At baseline, 52.8% had accommodations (IEP: 24.4%, 504: 38.0%). The EL interacted with 62.0% of children. Children with EL contact were more likely to undergo NPT (odds ratio [OR]: 5.385), have an IEP (OR: 4.580), and have a 504 (OR: 2.038) (p < .001 for all). At the end of the study period, 64.6% had accommodations (IEP: 33.5%, 504: 54.4%), which increased from baseline (p < .001 for all). EL interaction was associated with overt or silent stroke history (OR: 1.911), acute chest syndrome history (OR: 2.257), hospitalizations since age 5 (OR: 3.216), and hospitalization for vaso-occlusive pain since age 5 (OR: 2.226) (p < .001 for all).

EL interaction improves access to NPT and educational accommodations among children with SCD. SCD centers should incorporate ELs in comprehensive care teams to improve access to appropriate educational accommodations.