5 Years of ****

[right2fight]

I'm pretty new here, been checking out other diabetes sites, in an attempt to find some support. It's hard, unless I find another parent and family that have been tortured in an attempt to find and secure a safe school environment for my now 12 year old son. While I feel exposure is the key to this mess, with so many parents jumping hurdles in their efforts to get the educators and administrators in this country to understand why safeguards must be in place for a child with diabetes in school. I must say as of yet our story seems to never end! It's maddening! And in all my contacts, no one understands the myriad of heinous acts my great child has endured. Not to be believed.

[Erin]

Hi right2fight,

I'm sorry you are having such a hard time with your son's school. What types of problems are you experiencing? My experiences in the school system have lead me to believe that most problems are caused by ignorance and / or legal red tape.

Educating your son's teachers is the first step. When I was young my mom would give my teachers tons of info in a parent/teacher conference she always arranged for before school started.

Also, try to work with the system. There are some things teachers are just NOT ALLOWED to do. I was diagnosed with type 1 over 16 years ago, but I am legally and contractually prohibited from administering insulin to any of my students, if they needed it during school. And honestly, I would not feel comfortable doing so. With 27 other kids to keep an eye on, the chance of me making a mistake would be too great. The school nurse, or an administrator would be much more able to focus on that child's needs.

I would butt heads with the administration and the union if I fought to allow a child to test their bg in my classroom, and I would probably lose. Legally having sharps and even small amounts of blood in the classroom on a regular basis leaves the school vulnerable to countless idiotic law suits. Keeping this stuff in the nurses office or principals office lets the child test when they need to, but protects the school as well.

Things I AM able to do:
* keep food in the classroom (provided by the parent)
* Allow the student to eat or drink whenever they feel they need it
* Schedule class "snack time" to coincide with snacks the child needs every day.
* Allow the student unlimited water / bathroom / nurses office visits, and to contact the PARENT if I feel the child is abusing these privileges. (not question or yell at the child).

Things I'd probably get sued and / or fired for, but would do anyway:
* administer glucagon in an emergency situation.

[spike]

Hi right2fight,

I'm sorry you are having such a hard time with your son's school. What types of problems are you experiencing? My experiences in the school system have lead me to believe that most problems are caused by ignorance and / or legal red tape.

Educating your son's teachers is the first step. When I was young my mom would give my teachers tons of info in a parent/teacher conference she always arranged for before school started.

Also, try to work with the system. There are some things teachers are just NOT ALLOWED to do. I was diagnosed with type 1 over 16 years ago, but I am legally and contractually prohibited from administering insulin to any of my students, if they needed it during school. And honestly, I would not feel comfortable doing so. With 27 other kids to keep an eye on, the chance of me making a mistake would be too great. The school nurse, or an administrator would be much more able to focus on that child's needs.

I would butt heads with the administration and the union if I fought to allow a child to test their bg in my classroom, and I would probably lose. Legally having sharps and even small amounts of blood in the classroom on a regular basis leaves the school vulnerable to countless idiotic law suits. Keeping this stuff in the nurses office or principals office lets the child test when they need to, but protects the school as well.

Things I AM able to do:
* keep food in the classroom (provided by the parent)
* Allow the student to eat or drink whenever they feel they need it
* Schedule class "snack time" to coincide with snacks the child needs every day.
* Allow the student unlimited water / bathroom / nurses office visits, and to contact the PARENT if I feel the child is abusing these privileges. (not question or yell at the child).

Things I'd probably get sued and / or fired for, but would do anyway:
* administer glucagon in an emergency situation.

Sounds like an accurate CGMS would resolve one of the issues you mentioned--children checking their bg's in class. By "accurate", I mean one that is approved by the FDA for therapeutic changes to be made based on the readings w/o having to follow them up with a handheld meter.

[right2fight]

Hi Erin, Thanks for your input and for choosing such a wonderful career. We need more teachers like you. We reside in Florida and the laws here state that trained personnel can do the invasive procedures, since each school does not have a nurse. We have experienced, to mention a few:
1. Injected with insulin at 8:30 am
2. Treating a BS of 48 with a diet soda
3. Being chased around a school clinic with a lancet
4. Forced to eat all items packed for a field trip
I could go on and on, and I have vigorously attempted to correct the inappropriate actions, only to be ignored. However, great strides have been made because of my due diligence:
1. Now allowed to test and treat in the classroom
2. Administer his own insulin,when needed
3. The health dept. who oversees school health hired a CDE
So, this may afford the others, who have come after my son their rights.
Presently, my son is attending a private school on a voucher and they are refusing to even accept the physician's form. UGH!!!!! Thank you so much for caring and oh how I wish we were in NYC.

[right2fight]

Finally! I filed with the DOJ in October and they are forcing the OCR to do their job. This is the third time to OCR, we hope it's the charm. According to the letter from DOJ, if OCR feels this is out of their jurisdiction they want it back. Will post when we find out if our justice department really works and shout it from the mountain tops!