Re: Children with Diabetes in the School Setting

[Guest guest]

Thanks so much Pam for your insight.

We are located in Ohio, and the school is a private school that receives

federal funds.

Mom is truly at wits end. She is a friend of mine and I am appalled by the

way the school has been treating her.

Again, I appreciate your insight and advice.

Sandy

In a message dated 1/18/2008 8:47:20 PM Eastern Standard Time,

pcharney@... writes:

First, where are you located? Laws differ greatly depending on the

state.

Your friend first needs to meet with the advocacy folks at the

American Diabetes Association. They offer incredible support for

situations like this. I find it unconscionable that the school did

nothing when a life-saving treatment was at hand. There is a level of

liability there. The fact that they're still refusing to assist mom

means that she might have to get out the big guns and force the

issue. Children with diabetes fall under the Americans with

Disabilities Act which requires the school to make reasonable

accommodations to ensure that the child has access to an equal

educational opportunity. Courts have interpreted this in all sorts of

different ways, but I'd argue that if the child has hypoglycemic

unawareness and has already had one life-threatening low, then there

is a need to make sure that treatment is at hand and that someone is

able to administer it. Your friend should investigate the need for a

504 plan, which spells out the needs and what's being done to ensure

safety.

I live in WA state. My 9 year old daughter also has type 1 and is

also hypoglycemic unaware. WA state law provides for the " parent

designated adult " (PDA), which means that someone can volunteer to be

trained in diabetes care and can be available in the event that the

school nurse isn't there. Since we have a school nurse only 1 day a

week, we have PDAs trained to assist. They all can give glucagon if

needed.

What I find interesting is that the same schools that refuse to

administer glucagon (usually due to nurse practice acts and

resistance from school nurse groups intending to preserve their jobs

at the expense of student safety) will administer epi pens. While

glucagon is a bit more difficult to administer, the potential side

effects are negligible. You can cause cardiac arrhythmia by making a

mistake in giving epi pens.

Pam Charney PhD, RD, CNSD

Lecturer, Nutrition Sciences

Dept of Epidemiology

School of Public Health and Community Medicine

305-B Raitt Hall

Affiliate Associate Professor

School of Pharmacy

University of Washington

Seattle, WA

**************Start the year off right. Easy ways to stay in shape.

http://body.aol.com/fitness/winter-exercise?NCID=aolcmp00300000002489

[Guest guest]

Thanks so much Pam for your insight.

We are located in Ohio, and the school is a private school that receives

federal funds.

Mom is truly at wits end. She is a friend of mine and I am appalled by the

way the school has been treating her.

Again, I appreciate your insight and advice.

Sandy

In a message dated 1/18/2008 8:47:20 PM Eastern Standard Time,

pcharney@... writes:

First, where are you located? Laws differ greatly depending on the

state.

Your friend first needs to meet with the advocacy folks at the

American Diabetes Association. They offer incredible support for

situations like this. I find it unconscionable that the school did

nothing when a life-saving treatment was at hand. There is a level of

liability there. The fact that they're still refusing to assist mom

means that she might have to get out the big guns and force the

issue. Children with diabetes fall under the Americans with

Disabilities Act which requires the school to make reasonable

accommodations to ensure that the child has access to an equal

educational opportunity. Courts have interpreted this in all sorts of

different ways, but I'd argue that if the child has hypoglycemic

unawareness and has already had one life-threatening low, then there

is a need to make sure that treatment is at hand and that someone is

able to administer it. Your friend should investigate the need for a

504 plan, which spells out the needs and what's being done to ensure

safety.

I live in WA state. My 9 year old daughter also has type 1 and is

also hypoglycemic unaware. WA state law provides for the " parent

designated adult " (PDA), which means that someone can volunteer to be

trained in diabetes care and can be available in the event that the

school nurse isn't there. Since we have a school nurse only 1 day a

week, we have PDAs trained to assist. They all can give glucagon if

needed.

What I find interesting is that the same schools that refuse to

administer glucagon (usually due to nurse practice acts and

resistance from school nurse groups intending to preserve their jobs

at the expense of student safety) will administer epi pens. While

glucagon is a bit more difficult to administer, the potential side

effects are negligible. You can cause cardiac arrhythmia by making a

mistake in giving epi pens.

Pam Charney PhD, RD, CNSD

Lecturer, Nutrition Sciences

Dept of Epidemiology

School of Public Health and Community Medicine

305-B Raitt Hall

Affiliate Associate Professor

School of Pharmacy

University of Washington

Seattle, WA

**************Start the year off right. Easy ways to stay in shape.

http://body.aol.com/fitness/winter-exercise?NCID=aolcmp00300000002489

[Guest guest]

In tough situations like this, I find it effective to tell use the

media card. I doubt that the school would

like any bad publicity regarding child safety.

Colleen

[Guest guest]

I work for a public school system. If it is a matter of a child's

immediate health they would certainly train someone. My own town where

my children attend school has someone whose primary job is to carry

around a defibrillator and use it if needed for one particular child.

Many members of our staff in my district have had diabetes training

from the local diabetes center, as well as training on epipens for

allergic reactions. However a private school is a different story.

Even if they receive public funds - in our state they do not have to

make provisions for specialized educational plans and I would assume

they would be able to say no to specialized medical plans (like 504s).

I know of local private schools that are not handicap accessible for

example. I think if the school feels this uncomfortable about having

that child in their school the parents should evaluate if this is the

safest place for their child. I just wanted to give another perspective.

>

> In tough situations like this, I find it effective to tell use the

> media card. I doubt that the school would

> like any bad publicity regarding child safety.

>

> Colleen

>