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Salon Job Francis |
Welcome
to the "Children Have Rights In School" web site.
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Our MissionWe would like to make changes in local and national legislation regarding the needs and rights of our schoolchildren who have Diabetes. Many parents do not know where to turn for answers about the care and the rights of their diabetic child while attending school. The purpose of this web site is to inform and educate these parents. We want to share with you what we have done, and are doing now, to try to end the risk of your child not being allowed to care for themselves properly during the day. We hope we can help you find answers and end the worry you have while you are away from your child. Dear Family and Friends, Another year has gone by and I would just like to thank everyone for their donations and continued support. With everyone’s help we raised over $10,000. The walk was a great success, even with the rain! I can’t thank everyone enough for their donations and support. Every time another check would come in the mail, it made me feel so happy that so many people care about me and want to find a cure. My dream is that one day there will be a cure and I will not have to live my life with the complications that diabetes can bring. Thanks to your help, one day my dream will come true. Love Always, Nikki Wagner
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Support the Medicare Safe Needle Disposal Coverage Act of 2005
A new piece of federal legislation, HR 2841, entitled the “Medicare Safe
Needle Disposal Coverage Act”, has been introduced in the U.S. House of
Representatives during the week of June 6, 2005.
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Congress Overrides President's Veto of Medicare Bill: $300 Million for Type 1 Diabetes SecuredNew York, NY, July 16, 2008 -- Congress yesterday was successful in overriding President Bush's veto of the Medicare legislation, including funding for diabetes research, that was passed by the House last month and by the Senate last week. The legislation includes a two year extension of the Special Diabetes Program (SDP), providing $300 million for type 1 diabetes research ($150 million per year for two years). This is the second largest influx of federal research dollars ever provided to fight this disease; a multi-year extension of the SDP was JDRF's top legislative priority this year. Passage of the bill avoids a 35 percent cut in federal support for type 1 diabetes research. "This multi-year renewal of the SDP will enable NIH and the research community to continue aggressively fighting diabetes," said Larry Soler, JDRF's Vice President of Government Relations. "The strong, bipartisan support for the SDP in Congress stems from its demonstrated record of success and return on the federal investment. JDRF is grateful and pleased that this Congress has made the future of this life-saving program a priority in a difficult budget climate." Created in 1997, the SDP provides multi-year focused funding that has led to the development of new technologies and therapies that are helping people with diabetes and accelerating the pace of science leading to a cure. The SDP has been renewed by Congress four times and consists of two parts - research funding for type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes treatment and education programs for Native American populations. JDRF is the leading charitable funder and advocate of type 1 (juvenile) diabetes research worldwide. The mission of JDRF is to find a cure for diabetes and its complications through the support of research. Type 1 diabetes is a disease which strikes children suddenly and requires multiple injections of insulin daily or a continuous infusion of insulin through a pump. Insulin, however, is not a cure for diabetes, nor does it prevent its eventual and devastating complications which may include kidney failure, blindness, heart disease, stroke, and amputation. Since its founding in 1970 by parents of children with type 1 diabetes, JDRF has awarded more than $1.16 billion to diabetes research, including more than $137 million in FY2007. In FY2007, the Foundation funded 700 centers, grants and fellowships in 20 countries.
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Oregon school bus driver loses job after sick child told to get off The Associated Press -Friday, October 14, 2005 SALEM, Ore.
– A school bus driver no longer has his job after he allegedly
told a sick child to get off his bus. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2002561577_weborebusdriver14.html
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Teacher Banned After Ripping Out Boy's Insulin Pump Oct. 4, 2005 A substitute teacher in Lake County, Fla., was terminated and banned from teaching in the county after he ripped out a student's insulin pump during class apparently thinking it was a ringing cell phone, according to a Local 6 News report. Officials said a ninth-grade student at East Ridge High School, who is a Type I diabetic, was in class Monday when his insulin pump began to beep, indicating he was low on insulin. Witnesses said the class teacher, Richard Maline, 51, asked the student what the beeping was. School officials said Maline then grabbed the device, thinking it was a cell phone beeping and detached the tube that connects the insulin pump to the student's leg. The student went to the school's clinic and had the tube reinserted. Lake County school officials then acted quickly and terminated Maline, Local 6 reporter Louis Bolden said. "This is a very serious incident," Lake County schools spokesman Russell Anderson said. "Our substitute teachers, we provide them training on the behavior we expect of them in the classrooms. When they do something as serious as this, we don't hesitate to remove them from being a substitute teacher." Maline told Local 6 News off camera that his is an unfortunate situation. The Lake County Sheriff's Office is investigating the incident and trying to determine if there was any criminal intent.
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A Need For More School NursesA Times EditorialPublished October 3, 2005
Like it or
not, working parents are relying on the public schools more than
ever - not only to educate their children, but also to keep them
safe, provide help for their social and emotional problems and
take care of their health needs during the school day.
The public
school clinic, traditionally a closet-sized nook staffed by a
parent volunteer or a school office clerk, has always treated
scrapes, stomachaches and other upsets with bandages, sympathy
and a call home to parents. That prescription isn't enough in
today's school settings. Growing numbers of children suffer from
insulin-dependent diabetes, asthma and severe allergies -
conditions that can require life-saving intervention at school.
More children are on prescription drugs or medical regimens that
require assistance at school. And many seriously ill and
physically handicapped children are mainstreamed into public
schools - even those who can't walk, are on feeding tubes, need
catheterization or require breathing equipment.
Are Florida
public schools equipped to deliver that kind of medical
assistance to children? Most are not, and budget shortfalls and
academic accountability measures press public schools to spend
their limited funds on other priorities, despite evidence that
schools that do a good job of handling students' health issues
have lower absenteeism and higher test scores.
In Pinellas
County, for example, school nurses are spread so thin that 103
of the district's 137 schools get a registered nurse only one
day a week. (On other days, office clerks or teacher's aides
follow nurses' instructions to monitor blood sugar levels, give
sedatives to halt seizures or start treatment of an asthma
attack.) Those nurses are responsible for an average of 4,350
students each. National health care organizations recommend a
ratio of 1 to 750.
Florida
averages more students per registered nurse than any other state
in the South, according to the National Association of School
Nurses. With so many students, school nurses have little time to
give even the most medically needy students substantial
attention or to educate students about important health care
issues such as childhood obesity.
The demands
on public education today are enormous, yet public schools must
be institutions that respond to the needs of children trying to
learn. With increasing numbers of children needing more
sophisticated medical monitoring in the school setting,
taxpayers and school districts need to provide the resources to
hire professionals who can deliver that care promptly and
safely.
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Teacher yanks
out student's insulin pump
The East Ridge High substitute is fired after mistaking the medical device
for a cell phone.
Erin Cox and Vicki Mcclure | Sentinel Staff Writers Posted October 6, 2005 CLERMONT -- Cliffton Hassam's blood sugar has returned
to normal, but the shock has not worn off. "It would take a considerable yank to pull it
out," she said.
East Ridge Principal Aurelia Cole said the school learned of the incident
after Cliffton reported it at the office. An administrator was contacted
immediately, she said, and the student was treated in the school clinic. |
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Please Help! JDRF was founded in 1970 by the parents of children with juvenile diabetes -- a disease that strikes children suddenly, makes them insulin dependent for life, and carries the constant threat of devastating complications. Since inception, JDRF has provided more than $600 million to diabetes research worldwide. In a typical year, 85 percent of JDRF's expenditures directly support research and education about research. JDRF's mission is constant: to find a cure for diabetes and its complications through the support of research.
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Bill OK'd To Let Students Test Their Own DiabetesPublic school students with diabetes could inject themselves with insulin and monitor their own blood sugar during school hours if Governor Mitt Romney signs legislation passed this week on Beacon Hill. The bill seeks to have all public school districts follow a uniform practice for students with diabetes, a potentially life-threatening disease in which blood sugar is too high or too low and needs to be monitored. The bill, which arrived on Romney's desk on Monday, is under review, said spokeswoman Jodi Charles. The governor has 10 days from the day the bill arrived to sign or veto the measure, called Ashley's Bill, after Ashley Dacanay, a former Seekonk student who did not want to go to the school nurse every time she had to check her blood sugar. Dacanay's mother, Cynthia Proctor-Dacanay, inspired state Senator Jo Ann Sprague to file the legislation about four years ago for the first time. Yesterday all three cheered the news that the measure had passed the House and was on the governor's desk. ''We've been waiting so long now," said Ashley, now 18 and a nursing student at Rhode Island College. ''It's too late for me, but not for other kids." Health officials did not know how many children in the state have diabetes. School districts vary in their handling of students with diabetes, said Sally Fogerty, associate commissioner of the state Department of Public Health. Some schools let students carry syringes for insulin and prick their fingers to check their blood sugar. Others require students to visit the school nurse for care. Boston public schools handle diabetes on a case-by-case basis, spokesman Jonathan Palumbo said. Parents say children must learn to handle diabetes on their own, especially since the children might have a life-threatening situation without an adult present. The bill would let students treat themselves only if their physician certifies in writing that they are able to do so. If the bill passes, Fogerty said it is doubtful that children would be using needles on the playground. Many use insulin pumps, so that syringes are not always needed. Others are trained to discreetly inject insulin. Students can quietly check their own glucose levels by pricking their fingers for blood and pressing it against a meter small enough to fit in a backpack. ''Kids just won't be taking out a needle and using it," Fogerty said. ''It will all be done in a thoughtful way." Nationally, about 206,000 people under age 20, less than 1 percent of that age group, have diabetes, according to a 2002 survey, the most recent available from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases in Maryland. Not all diabetics require insulin shots, according to the institute. There are two main kinds of diabetes: Type 1 diabetes, the kind Dacanay has, usually occurs in children and requires insulin shots or a pump and monitoring of blood sugar. Type 2 diabetes, the more common form in adults and children, is often linked to obesity and may not require insulin. Parents whose children need insulin shots take their children's independence seriously. Many have taught their children early to manage the disease. Like an asthmatic child with an inhaler, diabetics carry their syringes, insulin, and blood-sugar meters everywhere, to birthday parties, the beach, and to school. ''There are parents who teach their children from the moment they can understand that this is how you take care of yourself because I'm not always going to be with you," Proctor-Dacanay said. ''When she was 4 years old she was pricking her own fingers," Proctor-Dacanay said of her daughter. Moira McCarthy Stanford, past president of the New England chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, said it is important for parents and schools to work together, because making it easier for children to check blood sugar will probably keep them healthier. When her daughter Lauren was in elementary school, Stanford visited the classroom, talked to students and teachers, and tried to make managing diabetes as normal as possible, she said. Now 13, Lauren checks her blood sugar four to 10 times a day, often quietly in class. ''That's all it takes," said Stanford, who lives in Plymouth. ''It's just so much more normal to pull out your meter and do it at your desk." Still, parents said schools should treat students individually. Young children or newly diagnosed diabetics might need the help of a school nurse. Others probably can handle it on their own. ''A kindergartner would need help with blood sugar testing and injections, of course," said Diane Covert of Belmont, whose son Thom, now 21, has diabetes. ''But there are 10-year-olds who do it for themselves." As one of her last acts in office, Sprague, whose term in office ends next month, sent Romney a letter urging him to sign the bill. ''We were just about to give up hope," she said. |
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Parents Sue School Board Over Diabetic Boy's Self-testing Tuesday, December 14, 2004 The family of an elementary student is suing the school board, saying the diabetic boy was put at risk because he was banned from self-testing his blood-sugar levels in the classroom. The lawsuit filed in federal court last week states that the boy, identified only as "D.C.," was told he could monitor his blood sugar only in the school's nursing office. The incidents alleged in the lawsuit occurred before September, when the school board removed its ban on self-testing of blood sugar in classrooms. The new policy allows students in third grade and beyond to self-test if they show the necessary maturity. Some of the more than 200 diabetic students in local public schools have complained in the past that frequent visits to the nursing office is disruptive to their education. The lawsuit filed by D.C.'s parents further claims that the boy was excluded from a field trip and denied rights to use a cellphone to advise his parents of his blood-sugar levels. The boy attended the district's Chancellor Charter School in Lantana until June, according to the lawsuit. It was not clear whether he had attended other local public schools. The family's attorney, Stewart Lee Karlin of Fort Lauderdale, would not comment. The parents of the boy were not identified in the lawsuit, which contends that the school's policy violated the Americans with Disabilities Act. The parents are asking for tuition reimbursement, damages for alleged deterioration of the boy's condition and compensation for pain and suffering. The parents claim one teacher told the boy that testing his blood sugar in
the classroom could endanger his classmates if blood got on their clothes.
Remember to visit the "Links" Page often, as new and helpful links are added frequently. UF Researchers
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SCHOOL BOARD POLICY ALLOWING CHILDREN TO TEST IN CLASSROOM School Board Policy 6Gx50-5.3212
BLOOD GLUCOSE MONITORING Pursuant to Fla. Stat. 1006.062(4)(c), students with diabetes mellitus
(insulin-dependent or non-insulin-dependent) or recurrent hypoglycemia have the
right to monitor their blood sugar levels, or to have such levels monitored,
during the school day as ordered by their physician. The purpose of blood glucose monitoring is to obtain information needed for
appropriate decisions regarding the balance of insulin, food, and exercise for
the student. Parents/guardians have the responsibility to notify the school administration
in advance, pursuant to Board Policy 5.321, that their child will use a glucose
monitoring device. Each student who will use a monitoring device has the
responsibility of showing it to his/her teachers and school administrators at
the beginning of the school year (or later time corresponding with beginning to
use the device at school), and the device should be labeled with the student's
name and other information consistent with Policy 5.321. The Superintendent shall annually direct school principals to notify
assistant principals and teachers of the students who will use glucose
monitoring devices in their school. Applicable personnel are to be trained, as
deemed appropriate by the Superintendent, concerning identification of blood
glucose monitoring devices. The student, school nurse, or other personnel trained pursuant to
section (7) below, will perform the monitoring. If a student will perform the
monitoring, he or she shall be assessed by the school nurse for adequate
knowledge and skill in all aspects of blood glucose monitoring. Students
performing self-monitoring shall be under the supervision of the school nurse or
other personnel trained according to section (7) below. The school principal/designee shall identify at least two personnel to
be trained in accordance with section (7) herein, as backup for the school nurse
in order to supervise and/or perform monitoring of blood glucose for students
with diabetes or recurrent hypoglycemia. Nonmedical school district personnel shall be allowed to perform or assist
with blood glucose monitoring as a health-related service pursuant to Fla.
Stat. 1006.062(4), upon successful completion of child-specific training
by a Florida-licensed registered nurse, nurse practitioner, physician (M.D. or
D.O.), or physician assistant. The school nurse will supervise and assess the
proficiency of nonmedical school staff who receive such training. As required by Fla. Stat. 1006.062(4), all blood-glucose monitoring
procedures shall be monitored periodically by a Florida-licensed registered
nurse, nurse practitioner, physician (M.D. or D.O.), or physician assistant. The schedule for a student's glucose monitoring in school should closely
follow the monitoring schedule used at home. The student's individualized health
care plan ("IHCP") and/or Section 504 Modification Plan ("504
plan") should specify when regular monitoring is to occur and when symptoms
would indicate the need for additional monitoring. The most appropriate setting for the glucose monitoring will, in many cases,
be the school health room. Students in grades three and higher who demonstrate
capability and maturity may monitor or be monitored in a supportive classroom
situation. The location and method of monitoring such glucose levels, including
safe disposal of sharps/lancets, shall be determined by a joint decision of the
school principal/designee and the school nurse, with input from the student, the
student's parent(s)/guardian(s), and the student's physician or other licensed
healthcare provider. The IHCP and the 504 plan will address emergency care procedures for
individual diabetic students and will contain a detailed description of the
method of response. Consistent with Fla. Stat. 1006.062(2) and Board Policy 5.321, there
shall be no liability for civil damages as a result of monitoring of student
blood glucose levels when the person performing or supervising such monitoring
acts as an ordinarily prudent person would have acted under the same or similar
circumstances. School principals and 504 designees will receive annual training on Section
504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Such training will include, but not be
limited to, diabetes. |
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Diabetes in School: Your Child’s Rights New York, NY, August 27, 2003 — Relationships between schools, teachers, and the parents of children with juvenile diabetes are often as unique as the individuals themselves. While there are federal and, in some cases, state laws protecting the rights of children with diabetes in school, such laws only provide general guidelines and are enforced differently in different areas. At the beginning of each school year, you will need to communicate with your child’s principal, teacher, nurse, and any other adults who will share responsibility for your child during the day, to come up with a plan to make sure your child is well cared for throughout the year. By far the most important legal document you can have to protect your child’s rights is a 504 plan. 504 plans are relatively easy to create (see examples), and are an invaluable tool for allowing your child the same access to educational opportunities as their peers. 504 plans, unlike other health plans, can be particularly useful in allowing special accommodations for your child during standardized testing. 504 plans may be as detailed as you like, and should clearly specify roles and instructions for the school personnel, as well as for the parent/guardian, and the child. Even with a 504 plan, however, problems may arise between you and the school. Should you have a conflict, there are a number of things you can do to improve the situation. But first, determine where the problem lies. Unfortunately, lack of awareness about diabetes is still a big problem in some areas. Schools may not be well informed about Section 504, or what’s covered under it. Be sure to give them all the information they need to understand your child’s special needs and rights. Take the initiative, and be careful not to assume the school is being uncooperative when the issue may be just a misunderstanding. Consider bringing a Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE) or other diabetes expert to the school, if possible, to train the staff and help them understand your child’s needs. JDRF volunteer and mom Julie Costakis strongly advocates a proactive approach after her own experience with son Grant’s kindergarten and first grade teachers. “It is amazing what some schools, nurses, and teachers will do to help their students with diabetes,” she says. Julie approached Grant’s kindergarten teacher last year at the beginning of the summer to explain her son’s case. The teacher agreed to meet with Grant privately during the summer in the Costakis’s home to learn about his diabetes care regimen and how his high and low blood sugars affect his behavior. The first grade teacher did the same this year. Julie knows she is very fortunate and says, “We shower these teachers with thanks for giving their time and effort.” On the other hand, there are a number of documented cases where the school will not cooperate. One such case involved William Cross, board member and co-chair of the government relations committee for JDRF’s Greater New Haven Chapter, whose daughter Katelyn has juvenile diabetes. In 1996, Katelyn’s school refused to agree with Katelyn’s 504 plan request to check her blood sugars and have snacks in the classroom, despite the fact that the plan was proposed by her doctor at Yale University School of Medicine. As a result, Katelyn had to go to the nurse’s office and miss valuable class time every time she needed to check her blood sugar. After repeated attempts at negotiation with the school for a better arrangement, William Cross finally filed a lawsuit. In 1999, an acceptable agreement was reached, and today Katelyn (now at a different school) has no difficulties with her diabetes plan at school. Since most parents don’t have the resources or desire to engage schools in long legal battles, JDRF encourages using this option only as a last resort. At the same time, however, it is important that you don’t allow yourself to be pressured into an agreement that compromises your child’s safety and well-being in any way. In other words, don’t be afraid to “make waves” if necessary. The way a school “has always done it” may not be the best way for your child. Whenever possible, document things in writing—this offers protection for both you and the school. You may also file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights in case of disputes. Another option is to pursue state legislation to protect your child. A number of JDRF volunteers, who are also parents of children with diabetes, have had success with this approach, and JDRF fully supports such efforts on the local level. Currently, six states have their own laws addressing diabetes management in schools: Montana, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington State, and Wisconsin. Local support groups and JDRF chapters can be great resources for coming up with a strategy for dealing with a school. Perhaps there are other parents in your area who share your frustrations, or who have overcome similar ones, and can help you improve your situation. Remember that your goal is to establish a good long-term relationship with your child’s school, so try to be positive and communicate frequently with teachers, nurses, or other relevant staff.
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New Page: Educate The Educators...Read Lisa Handel's Wonderful Newspaper Article and Story |
Nurse's Note * (Tips For Parents)
Dear parents:
Here are a few tips from your local school team:
-Know your rights (learn about the legislation available to help your child succeed in
school. Two important laws are IDEA '97 and Section 504. Free information can be
obtained from the Florida Department of Education Clearinghouse.
-If you think your child is having a problem, say so early. Notify your school nurse.
-Don't assume that staff is familiar with diabetes. Work with your school nurse to
correct misconceptions.
-Keep good records of treatment.
-Know that your school nurse is part of the team to assist with your child's individual
health.
-Build a long-term relationship with your school nurse and school team.
We are here to assist you. Please share your concerns with us so we can help!
Sincerely yours,
Julie VandeSteeg (Team Leader - Diabetes)
Winnie Whidden (School Health Supervisor)
Please visit our Newspaper Article Section on The Goals-Advice page for ideas on how you can help locally. Check out how area schools and businesses are helping raise money for research on our new Fundraising page.
Contact Information
- Electronic mail
- General Information: TYPE1INFO@aol.com
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