COVID-19 school risk for children with disabilities

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SPORT Principal Investigator Adam Kirton recently circulated a note aimed at families of school-age children with disabilities. As the question of returning to school has been on the mind of many in our community, we re-share the information below in the hopes that it will be helpful:

• "The exact risks of acquiring COVID in school versus other environments are not known.
• Children are relatively resistant to the serious complications of COVID; only a very small proportion ever become sick enough to require hospitalization.
• The risks of having a more severe illness from COVID-19 once acquired in children with severe neurological disabilities and some medical conditions may be increased.
• There is no evidence of increased risk of acquiring COVID-19 or having a more severe illness for children with neurological or developmental conditions that do not cause severe neurological disability.
• There is no evidence that the risk of severe disease from COVID-19 for children with disabilities is higher than from common viruses children are exposed to in school such as influenza. Given the strict measures in place, the risks of acquiring influenza and other infectious illnesses appears to be lower than previous years. However, it is still important for children with disabilities to receive their annual influenza vaccination.
• These possible risks should be compared to what you and your family see as the potential benefits of school including educational, social, access to therapies and services, etc."

We also encourage you to consult SickKids's COVID-19 recommendations for school reopening.