Childhood Diabetes: Your Child's Rights at School

Diabetes has been classified as a disability, and so your child has certain rights at school to protect him or her.

Children who suffer from diabetes need special medical attention, both at home and at school. This is medically necessary for their health, and so they are allowed to follow routines that other children would not and this is the reason the disease must be labeled.

Each child will have a specifically developed treatment for him or her.There are many different types of diabetes, each requiring different medications. Your child's diabetes team will develop a program just for him or her.You, as a parent of a diabetic child, need to know the rights of diabetic children within the school system, and so this article is important for you. It doesn't matter whether your child is insulin dependent, or receives oral medications.

You cannot make the assumption that your child's school will initiate a program for your diabetic child, or even if they know how to have one. There are so many restrictions in schools about medications and drugs that the diabetic child may be forbidden to do what she needs to do to stay healthy. A recent court case ensued when a school in Connecticut refused to let a student test her glucose level while she was in class. Since this is medically necessary to maintain a glucose range, the family won the court case.

The best approach is to meet with the school administration to discuss a plan for the child's care during school hours ,and make sure that it's in writing. This should be done as soon as the diagnosis is determined, and must be initiated as soon as the child's treatment begins. Since diabetes is considered a disability, there are certain measures that must be taken and cannot be denied, in order to remain compliant with the law, under the Disability Act.

Items which need to be addressed in writing include:

The presence of staff members who have been properly trained in the testing of blood samples, have the ability to recognize the symptoms of hypoglycemia (elevated blood sugar) and hyperglycemia (decreased blood sugar), and are prepared to administered insulin or glucagon, as needed;

Allowing your child to test his or her blood glucose levels in the classroom or some other designated area and treating the effects of hypo- or hyperglycemia (such as taking a snack or medication, when necessary).

The child must be allowed to participate in sports, field trips and other extracurricular activities, and any necessary supervision or assistance must be provided.

The child must be permitted to eat a snack or lunch whenever it is necessary, even outside of snack or lunch break time in the school program. The child must be given adequate time to finish eating.

Your child must be permitted to use the bathroom or go to a water fountain whenever necessary, or be permitted to bring a drinking container of water into the classroom. The school may require that the container be covered.

Your child must be permitted time off for medical appointments or illness related to the diabetic condition, without recrimination or harrassment.

Be prepared to fight for these rights. Some schools believe that a strict learning environment must be maintained, and that parents and children must adapt their needs to this environment. If your child wants to go on a school outing, the school not only must allow him or her to go, but must also provide a trained staff person to assist with your child's medical needs. You should not be told you have to hire your own private nurse or take time off work to accompany your child. It is the school that must provide a nurse or other adult staff or chaperone who has been properly trained in the diabetic needs of your child, as well as in medical emergencies that may arise as a result of your child's disability.