Fighting For Our Kids
By Dorothy Mitchell (LaVonne) on June 4, 2012
| Making sure children with diabetes are safe at school. By Karen Hargrave-Nykaza http://www.dlife.com/diabetes/lifestyle/diabetes-children/karen_hargrave/children_with_diabetes |
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Every time I hear about parents who
are struggling to get what their children with diabetes need in school, it brings
me back to the many years that we had to fight for every little thing that our
son needed in school. It seemed so counterintuitive to me at the time, and
still does, not to just do what makes sense, because it makes sense. But, as
most of us know, schools and other institutions don't necessarily operate based
on what should be common sense. The fear of lawsuits, the desire to do things
by the book, and the need to follow specified protocols have, in some cases,
taken over what would otherwise be the obvious choice of what to do in so many
cases where our children with diabetes are concerned. It is sad that during a time when
there is such a strong focus on inclusion for all students, there are still so many
things that separate children with diabetes or other special needs, including
having access (or limitations) to certain foods. So much of it seems to be
based on a true lack of knowledge on the part of the school. You would think that would mean that the
schools would welcome having diabetes educators come in to educate the teachers
and administrators about the basics of the disease. Unfortunately, this is not
always the case. Simply suggesting that the training is needed is perceived as
a threat. While it is understandable that this kind of training takes time away
from their other responsibilities at school, keeping the children in school
safe is one of their biggest responsibilities. That child did not choose to
have a life-threatening disease, and certainly did not choose to have to do
countless additional tasks each day to keep themselves safe and healthy. What can really be infuriating is
when administrators or others suggest that parents want "special
treatment" for their children with diabetes, when in fact all we really
want is equal treatment. Just because someone else's child doesn't require
glucose tabs or juice to get through the day doesn't mean we are asking for
something "special" for our kids. What we want is for our child to be
just as safe as everyone else's, and that might mean letting them have juice at
their desk or take time to test their blood sugar before they take a test or
go outside. While it can be frustrating to see
other parents still fighting for the same things for their elementary school
child that we fought for seven or eight years ago, it is comforting to be able
to be there as support for those parents. Even though the rights of children
with diabetes are still far from being routine in most school districts, they
are getting closer with each loud mouthed (in a good way) mother who is willing
to take on their child's principal or out-of-touch school nurse in order to
secure their child's rights and safety in school. The fantastic school nurses
are getting closer to outnumbering the out-of-touch ones, and more and more
administrators and teachers are gaining experience with the serious health
concerns of many of their students. And Moms will always know how fight for
what their kids need, without any concern about rocking the boat along the way. |
| diabetes, kids, safety, school |
| I was a nurse for 12 years and then about 7 years ago I was diagnosed with Diabetes Type 2. Since then I have learned more about my disease and its complications. I have also learned to manage my blood sugar with diet and oral medication. |
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