School closures due to swine flu are wreaking havoc for parents across the country. But when the bug hit a school that serves students with disabilities exclusively, it brought with it a whole new set of problems.

Swine flu was discovered at Public School 177, a school for children with disabilities in Queens, N.Y., last week, forcing the school to close down.

Many students at the school are nonverbal, making it difficult to diagnose or treat illness. What’s more, the break in routine caused by the school closure is proving tumultuous for some students who have disabilities like autism. They are confused and the lack of routine is leading some to outbursts.

Meanwhile, with swine flu fears running high, babysitters and respite care workers are hard to come by.

So far five cases of swine flu have been confirmed at P.S. 177. The school is expected to reopen on Wednesday. In the meantime, everyone is just hanging in there, reports The New York Times. To read more click here.

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