Ignorance at school….

[CC'sMom]

This is kinda an off shoot of Samatha’s (abacobaby) thread on ignorant comments. Do parents of children with other diseases besides diabetes run into as many roadblocks in school concerning their children’s care as we do?

I handed my school signed instructions from the doctor on my daughters care and the school basically handed it back with “No, we don’t deal with it that way.” And “It’s not our policy….” Excuse me??? These are doctors orders….Would that be said to any other parent? Is it because our kids look healthy? Because there is no real understanding of T1 diabetes?

I don’t know why, but I just feel the need to understand why it’s such a struggle to get the care our kids need in school. I understand there are perceived blood issues, but when it comes right down to it, that’s ignorance.

Maybe this thread is more of a vent. Even though I’ve given up our 504 fight, I still have anger about how many obstacles the schools put up for some of us….Thanks for listening!

[Ellen]

In our county's school system, the ped endo writes orders on the county's form. Do you have anything like that available? Then we institute a 504 based on what the doctor has ordered.

[CC'sMom]

Well, I could get a 504 if I really, really wanted to fight it. (Catholic school) But I'm thinking more like, why do I have to fight it?? I mean if a parent came to me and said my child has this disease and this is what I need for them to be healthy and succeed in school. I wouldn't say, well that just doesn't work for me. You know what I mean?? Especially when it's simple things like checking blood sugars and counting carbs etc...I guess I'm just having one of those days again...:(

I guess what's got me down is that I drove to a field trip today and I took the kids in my car out for a treat after we were done. We didn't have a carb count and just guessed. I told my daughter to check later at school to make sure she wasn't too high or too low. She kept saying, I can't ! They'll yell at me and make me go to the nurses and then I'll miss class! I think that just got to me....

[Judy&Alli]

Oh Holly I so feel your pain. I have been fighting the school thing too. I haven't had to do a 504 plan only because I work at my dd school. That is why we are fighting them because the principal views me as an employee not Alli's mom. I have to have my husband there to get anything done for Alli. I'm so, so sorry that you are going through this. Could you pull out some scriptures to help fight from the Christian perspective. Can't think of any off hand but I will rack my brain. BTW I think you might be right on about how our children look healthy, the schools don't take d as a life threatening disease. It's very sad that we have to fight for basic rights for our children!!!!!:(
Good Luck!
Judy:)