Dear Parents and Families,

We would like to take this opportunity to introduce ourselves to you and inform you of the special circumstances regarding our son/daughter     (name)     . He/She/They has/have an autoimmune condition called Alopecia Areata which causes hair loss. You can’t “catch” Alopecia: it is not contagious. When asked, we describe the condition as “being allergic to his/her/their hair,” which is a simplified, and not a medically accurate, description. Currently, there is no effective treatment for Alopecia Areata. The course of alopecia is highly unpredictable; hair can spontaneously regrow even after years of extensive hair loss. It can (and often will) fall out again.

There is no pain or discomfort with alopecia. Thankfully,     (name)      has always been and continues to be very healthy. As a result of     (name)     ‘s condition, we have become involved with the Canadian Alopecia Areata Foundation (CANAAF). This registered charitable organization provides information and support for families affected by Alopecia. If you wish to obtain more information about Alopecia or CANAAF, please visit www.canaaf.org.

We appreciate you taking the time to read our letter and hope that you will share this information with your family. We feel that information is very important, especially in understanding people’s differences. If you have any questions regarding     (name)     ‘s condition, please do not hesitate to reach out to us.

Sincerely,

Dear Parents, Teachers and Principal of     (School name)     ,

My son/daughter,     (name)     , will be entering grade ____ this fall.  I wanted to briefly explain about a unique situation with     (name)     . He/She/They has/have a disease called Alopecia Areata. It  is a highly unpredictable, non-contagious, autoimmune disease resulting in the loss of hair on the scalp and sometimes other areas of the body. Alopecia Areata affects approximately 2% of the population and has no known cure.

Alopecia can be emotionally and socially isolating. For this reason, we ask that you are aware of bullying, teasing or staring from other students, (there have been incidents of bullying in the past/ though we have not had any)

    (name)      usually wears a wig/hat/beanie/scarf/no head covering, and they are allowed to wear this inside and during class. Please do not ask     (name)      to remove or explain his/her/their head cover.

I believe that knowledge is power and if     (name)     ’s classmates are aware of his/her/their story, they will be less likely to tease or make hurtful remarks. I appreciate your cooperation and understanding. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns. Or for more information please visit www.canaaf.org.

Thank you,