Support participation and build confidence
Suggestion for implementing the strategy ‘Creating inclusive learning environments ’
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Ask learners what helps
Ask learners what helps
Reduce feelings of anxiety and minimise barriers to participation.
Ask learners to share their perspectives, what works for them, and the support they need.
Find out from children and young people:
- how they want to access their asthma medication
- how they want to communicate their health needs
- activities or learning situations that increase their levels of stress or uncertainty
- the information they would like shared about their asthma and the best ways to share this
- how to support specific concerns, such as participation in exercise or sport.
Support learner wellbeing
Support learner wellbeing
Feeling that another asthma episode could start at any time may cause a person to feel anxious.
Supporting children and young people to manage their asthma is key.
![11260 [Asthma-social-emotional-wellbeing.png]](https://inclusive-live-storagestack-assetstorages3bucket-3uty0hejzw6u.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/public/inclusive-education/example-images/Asthma-social-emotional-wellbeing__ScaleMaxWidthWzEwODZd.png)
Source: Ministry of Education
Create a supportive environment
Create a supportive environment
Tips for creating supportive environments for children and young people with asthma.
- Know which children and young people have asthma.
- Have a copy of their asthma action plan.
- Recognise the early warning signs of an asthma episode.
- Provide a quiet space and/or activity to allow recovery from an acute episode.
- Support learner’s transition back to learning after illness.
- Recognise when children and young people show signs of poorly controlled asthma or worsening asthma.
- Support easy access to medication.
- Connect with parents to discuss any concerns.
Source: Managing asthma: A guide for schools (opens in a new tab/window)
Support participation in sport
Support participation in sport
Exercise may trigger an asthma attack.
With proper management, a child or young person with exercise-induced asthma (EIA) can maintain full participation in most sports.
- Include warm-up exercises for 5–10 minutes prior to outdoor games and exercise.
- During cold weather, plan outdoor exercise later in the school day.
- Encourage children with EIA to use asthma medication as recommended by their health care professional, before exercising. Commonly this is two puffs of a reliever inhaler before warming up.
- Ensure children always carry a reliever in case of an asthma attack.
Plan participation for all
Plan participation for all
Plan activities, spaces, and processes that ensure all learners can participate fully.
![11229 [Plan-participation-for-all-students.png]](https://inclusive-live-storagestack-assetstorages3bucket-3uty0hejzw6u.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/public/inclusive-education/example-images/Plan-participation-for-all-students__ScaleMaxWidthWzEwODZd.png)
Source: Ministry of Education
Useful resources
Useful resources
Children and asthma
Read time: 26 min
This guide provides information on childhood asthma. There is a specific section on physical activity, page 15 with tips on supporting children and young people with asthma to be active.
Publisher: Asthma + Respiratory Foundation, NZ
Download PDF
Teachers' asthma toolkit: Asthma and physical activity
A free online toolkit with information about asthma. The physical activity section explains how young people can engage safely in physical activity.
Publisher: Asthma + Respiratory Foundation, NZ
Exercise induced asthma
Information on recognising symptoms and what to do if you are experiencing exercise induced asthma, presented in this pamphlet.
Publisher: Asthma NZ
Next steps
More suggestions for implementing the strategy “Create inclusive learning environments ”:
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Current page Support participation
Return to the guide “Asthma and learning”
![11647 [Asthma-2000x1125px.png]](https://inclusive-live-storagestack-assetstorages3bucket-3uty0hejzw6u.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/public/inclusive-education/guides/featured-images/Asthma-2000x1125px__FillWzIwOCwyMDhd.png)
How to use this site
Guide to Index of the guide: Asthma and learning
Understand:
Strategies for action:
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Recognise and respond to an asthma attackShow suggestions for Recognise and respond to an asthma attack
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Review your policies and proceduresShow suggestions for Review your policies and procedures
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Develop inclusive systemsShow suggestions for Develop inclusive systems
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Create inclusive learning environmentsShow suggestions for Create inclusive learning environments
