Living with CF at School - Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

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Living With CF at School

Children and young adults with cystic fibrosis (CF) go to school and college. They should be expected to and take part in school activities, including sports and other extracurricular activities. It is important that teachers, students and parents work together as a team to help people with CF have the best school experience possible.

Students with CF may cough frequently or need multiple trips to the bathroom. Neither should be limited or discouraged, because this is how CF affects the body. In addition, because CF affects the lungs, good infection control (e.g., hand washing, covering your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing) is important to help minimize the spread of germs to help keep a student with CF healthy. Special considerations may need to be made when a student with CF is ill in order to maintain his or her schoolwork.

Physical activity and exercise play an important role in the health of anyone with CF. As for all students, school activities (e.g., recess and sports) are a good way for students with CF to stay active and strengthen their muscles.

A student with CF should not be limited or discouraged from participating in any physical exercise. Again, good communication between the teacher, student and parents are important to ensure that students with CF stay active and healthy in school.

In this section, you will find:

A Teacher's Guide to CF - Questions and answers for teachers who may have a student(s) with CF in their classroom.
Letter for Schools about CF - This letter is a template for parents, families and people with CF to use to help schools learn about CF.
School and CF - This pamphlet explains the laws that allow students to have their medical needs met when they attend day care, elementary and high school, college and university or get vocational training. (PDF)
School, Enzymes, Sports and CF - A fact sheet for teachers, caregivers and parents that describes the unique nutrition needs of the school-aged child with cystic fibrosis. (PDF)

School and CF - Click on image to download this pamphlet.

School, Enzymes, Sports - Click on image to download this fact sheet.

Additional Resources

Updated 03/20/2012