GastroKids

IBDU: A site for young adults transitioning to college and independent living

Developed  by the NASPGHAN Foundation and the Starlight Children’s Foundation, IBDU is a resource for young adults with IBD. Even though you’ve grown up with Crohn’s disease or colitis, you’re now making a transition to a world of going to college with IBD or living on your own with IBD and working with IBD.

We’ve developed these resources to help you become more independent around managing IBD. We’ll help you:

• build on previous knowledge,
• improve self-management skills, and
• develop a portable medical record and develop an action plan for dealing with IBD during transition into adulthood.

We’ve also included information to support and guide parents, friends/family, educators and employers during this important transitional period.

IBD University focuses on:

• Education – IBD overview, medications, glossary of terms, and procedures
• Healthcare – Insurances, prescriptions, important numbers, student health center, and transitioning to a new gastroenterologist
• Lifestyle – Healthy habits, nutrition, drinking/smoking, sexuality and travel tips
• Self Help – Tracking medical history, medical passport, and important numbers

Support for IBDU is made possible by UCB, Inc.

Visit www.ibdu.org

About our partners

About Starlight Children’s Foundation™

When a child or teenager has a serious medical condition, everyone in the family is affected. For 25 years, Starlight Children’s Foundation has been dedicated to helping seriously ill children and their families cope with their pain, fear and isolation through entertainment, education and family activities. Starlight’s programs have been proven to distract children from their pain, help them better understand and manage their illnesses, and connect families facing similar challenges so that no one feels alone. Through a network of chapters and offices, Starlight provides ongoing support to children, parents and siblings in all U.S. states and Canadian provinces with an array of outpatient, hospital-based and Web offerings. Programs are also delivered internationally through affiliates in Australia, Japan and the United Kingdom. To learn more visit www.starlight.org.