Accommodations That Make a Difference

Project Sleep’s Navigating School with Narcolepsy Toolkit includes one of the most comprehensive lists of classroom, testing, and scheduling accommodations for students living with narcolepsy. The best accommodations are individualized—what helps one student may differ for another—but these are among the most commonly effective examples drawn directly from the toolkit:

📚 In-Class & Daily Learning

• Seating near the front of the room or by a window for better alertness.
• Freedom to stand, stretch, or take quiet movement breaks without drawing attention.
• Permission to use fidget items, chew gum, or sip water to maintain alertness.
• Copies of lecture notes, outlines, or slide decks to reduce pressure to take notes while fatigued.
• Audio or video recording of lectures (with teacher consent) to replay material later when alert.
• Access to natural lighting when possible; avoidance of dark or overly warm environments that promote drowsiness.
• Alternate participation methods—typed or recorded answers instead of verbal responses on low-alert days.

🧮 Testing, Quizzes, and Assignments

• Extended test time to account for attention lapses or brief naps.
• Breaks during long exams to rest, stretch, or nap briefly if needed.
• Testing at the time of day when the student is typically most alert.
• Quiet, low-distraction testing environments or private testing rooms.
• Alternate test formats (written, oral, project-based) if fatigue or cataplexy interfere with standard formats.
• Flexible deadlines or make-up opportunities when symptoms interfere with completing work on time.
• Access to technology aids such as speech-to-text software or keyboard use for essays.

🕒 Scheduling, Attendance & Workload

• Priority registration to select classes at the most alert times of day.
• Permission to schedule a nap period (20–30 minutes) during the school day in a safe, quiet location.
• Reduced course load when medically necessary or during flare-ups.
• Flexibility in attendance policies to allow recovery from severe sleepiness or cataplexy episodes.
• Option to take online, hybrid, or asynchronous courses when in-person scheduling isn’t sustainable.
• Coordinating longer breaks between classes to accommodate medications and naps.

💬 Communication & Safety Plans

• Informing key staff (teachers, nurse, counselor) about narcolepsy and cataplexy so they recognize what’s happening if an episode occurs.
• Identifying a safe space for the student to rest or recover during severe symptoms.
• Establishing discreet signals or plans to excuse the student temporarily without embarrassment.
• Providing written summaries after meetings or instructions to compensate for information missed due to drowsiness.
• Encouraging peer or buddy note-sharing when possible.

For even more detailed examples—including sample letters for physicians and school administrators—see Project Sleep’s full Navigating School with Narcolepsy toolkit (pages 7–11).