Get Adobe Flash player
NEDA TOOLKIT for Educators The NEDA Educational Toolkits Story The Background A Brief History of the Toolkits Whether you know or simply suspect that a student has an eating disorder, it can create lots of worry and confusion. How can such a bright student seem to sacrifice everything for the sake of being thin? How will he succeed if he’s always missing class due to medical appointments? Is there anything I can do to make school easier for her? Although these questions and concerns are the signs of a good and caring teacher, there are some simple steps that you can take to help support your student in his/her recovery and allow them to fulfill their academic potentials. In September 2007 the NEDA Board of Directors officially approved the organization’s new strategic priorities, listing educational toolkits as a new NEDA priority fitting the new mission:  “To support individuals and families affected by eating disorders, and serve as a catalyst for prevention, cures and access to quality care.” Myths and misconceptions surround eating disorders that can make it more difficult for you to provide effective help to your students who might be struggling with these issues. The National Eating Disorders Association created a series of toolkits for parents, educators, and coaches to help dispel myths and provide accurate, up-to-date information in an easy-to-use guidebook. Some of the questions and issues that you will see addressed in the following pages are: • What are eating disorders? • What are some signs that one of my students may have an eating disorder? • How do they affect academic performance? • What type of support will a student need after returning to school post-treatment? • How can I create a classroom environment that is conducive to recovery? Of course, no toolkit, no matter how thorough, could possibly address the diverse range of issues that are unique to each individual and academic setting. Instead, our goal is to provide a comprehensive overview of eating disorders and treatment in one easy-to-use document. We have provided resources for more in-depth information that may address these unique issues. The toolkits were initially developed to tie together existing information and create new materials to create a complete package to assist individuals in their search for information and help. They were meant to provide guidance, not create standards of care, and would be based on the best available information at the time of development. The first toolkits were created with the assistance of the ECRI Institute, an organization known for its ability to translate complex healthcare research into accessible, usable information. After developing the first draft of the Educator Toolkit, NEDA and ECRI convened several focus groups of educators to review the document. NEDA’s Board of Directors and other eating disorders experts performed a final review of the toolkit. With the continuing advances in eating disorder research and treatment, NEDA recognized the need for a toolkit revision. Again, the input of educators, former eating disorder sufferers, and eating disorder experts was used to further refine the draft document. In 2015, the newest version of the Educator Toolkit was released. We are currently seeking funding for the ongoing development of toolkits, as well as distribution and marketing. If you or anyone you know may be interested in contributing to, sponsoring or providing a grant to support these efforts, please be sure to contact our Development Office at 212-575-6200, ext. 307; development@nationaleatingdisorders.org. We hope you’ll find these toolkits useful and will share this resource with others. Page  | 3