Kindergarten Transition Resources for Children with Special Needs was gleaned from a response from PUBYAC contributors. If you're a member check out the archives for PUBYAC, 3-27-2013. The following  is by Peggy Johnson, Zion, IL.

I have 2 children with epilepsy history.  Both outgrew the kind that they had as children, but one of them now has 2 different kinds of seizures.  The best advice I have, and it comes from them as well, is to talk about it.

I went into their classrooms in elementary school and read a book about a child with epilepsy, and one about asthma (they both have asthma as well).  I showed them the asthma inhalers, and told them that if anyone saw something that didn't look right, to go find an adult-but to have someone else stay with them. I tried to do this once a year for each of their classes.  They liked the book, and I read it to my children many more times than I did to classes.  My one daughter even gave it to a college classmate to read-her classmate had a brother with epilepsy.

It was easier to tell them about the epilepsy once I had talked about the asthma-the asthma was less threatening.  When I was talking to a teacher one day, my daughter had a seizure in the classroom-fortunately she just collapsed on the desk for a minute, and then sat up.  The other children were concerned, but not overwhelmed because they had been told about it before this.  I took her home because it was the second such one of the day (we went to the doctor first) and they upped her meds.

The main thing is for the parents to feel comfortable with the teachers and staff, and then the other children in the room can be educated based on their age.  I was lucky enough to have the girls go to elementary school for 4 years in Virginia that also had one of 2 programs in the state for severe physical handicaps as well as mental handicaps.  This made it easy to feel comfortable leaving the girls to their care.  Besides having both an RN and an LPN in the school at all times (and they were on opposite sides of the school as well) helped a lot-and there were aides in each classroom in the special section that were working on becoming nurses or nurses' aides.

I found that the Epilepsy Foundation (EpilepsyFoundation.org) had wonderful resources. One of the books in their Book Store looks like a good one.  (Aprendamos con Tito sobre la Epilepsia (Let's Learn with Teddy about Epilepsy)).  There is also a book about a service dog there as well.  One thing I found is to make an appointment with the teacher and the nurse as soon as you can (preferably before school starts) and let them know all the facts that you can-but with a dog, that is probably going to happen anyway.  If you, as a parent, aren't comfortable talking with too many people, give the nurse/teacher/principal permission to tell anyone that they think needs to know-it makes it easier if they can use their discretion than if they have to get permission every time.

Again, speak up and educate are the most important, but don't make them frightened.  Educate the child, the classmates, the teachers, and the school.  My daughter with epilepsy as an adult goes on websites and answers questions of those that are newly diagnosed, and lets all of her friends and fellow employees know about her epilepsy.  The worst thing that can happen is that it is a surprise and no one knows what to do. Sharing really helps, whether it is epilepsy or not.

My brother had Guillain-Barre Syndrome over 20 years ago, and he now shares online with those that are looking for information because they are newly diagnosed.  It helps both him and those that have gotten it since he had it to understand the disease as well as how to deal with it.  (He is a Marathoner now-so is fully recovered, thank you!)  My daughters and I all sometimes answer these types of questions on line.

These are older books, but could be helpful for children trying to understand epilepsy Becky the Brave by Laurie Lears, (Becky's sister has epilepsy, Becky tries to explain to others) Taking Seizure Disorders to School by Kim Gosselin.