Chiari Project

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Hi Friends,

My name is Bridget Garrett. I am an 8th grade teacher from New Lenox,

Illinois and for my master's degree I am conducting a qualitative

study on the educational effects of Chiari I Malformation. (Grades K-

12)

I was inspired to take on this topic when I read a post on a Chiari

forum from a mother who was frustrated with her daughter's school

because they did not understand her daughter's condition.

It is my hope that this study will bring about an awareness of Chiari

I Malformation in our schools.

To do that, I need your help with some of the information. Please

visit my classroom website if you would like to participate and

answer 30 open-ended questions about Chiari.

http://209.7.110.8/~bgarrett/webfolder/07research_project.html

The responses will be used to put together a suggested list of

accommodations/modifications that schools may implement to help

students with Chiari succeed in school. Participant's names will

remain confidential to protect the identity of those involved. I will

post the final paper on my classroom website.

Purpose of the Study

The purpose of this study is to examine, in detail, symptoms commonly

associated with Chiari that affect a student's educational experience

so that parents and educators are better equipped to craft

appropriate IEPs or 504s for these students and maximize their

educational opportunities. This examination will be based on

questionnaires of students with Chiari as well as an extensive review

of available literature. The questionnaires will be used to identify

common themes among the responses and to develop a list of

appropriate accommodations and modifications needed to help students

with Chiari succeed in an educational setting.

Questions of the Study

The following questions will guide the focus of this study:

1. What symptoms are commonly associated with Chiari?

2. How do these symptoms affect a student's success in school?

3. What accommodations or modifications are needed in the school

setting to meet the needs of students with Chiari?