yet another school problem

[lotsoftots]

my daughter school has this very cool field trip every year for the 3r grade classes they get to go to an old time school house for two days ( only durning the school time they come home at night) anyways they eat lunches there have their snacks ect they will be there from 9:00 till 3:30 both days. They get to dress up in pioneer clothing make a coffee can lunch box do home work on black boards its just something I dont want Samantha to miss out on. Well the problem is the dates they wil be going is Dec 18 & 19 the school is wanting me to go with her which I would say normally wouldnt be a problem but I am due to have a baby Dec 15th:eek: wow is that getting close. I cant even say maybe I'll go I am always late but then again what if I am not. Does the school have to have someone to give shots or do I have to find someone to go with her???? This week I did get Samantha to give herself her own shots:) she is afride grandma will be here while I am in the hospital having the baby and grandma's shots hurt...lol

[LJS118]

I was always told that if you couldn't go then the school nurse had to go. If she couldn't go they need to get a substitute nurse and if they cant' do that they HAVE to cancel the trip! Your daughter can't be left behind.

Just a thought, could her dad go with her, i'm sure he would want to be at the birth of the new baby...but just a thought

[Mom2Will]

Can Grandma go? If Samantha is self injecting maybe Grandma can take a cell phone, call you with the carb count and Grandma can draw the insulin and Samantha inject. We do this with Will's Grandma and Grandpa a lot, life is so much easier with Will doing his own injections, more people willing to help.

[Nancy in VA]

If drawing up is the challenge, you can also send "prefilled" syringes based on a full meal and a "reasonable" correction and she can just squirt out any extra if she doesn't need it before injecting. Just another thought.

[Sarah Maddie's Mom]

I am also under the impression that any kid with a 504 in a public school must be provided WHATEVER he/she needs to do what everyone else is doing - in this case it would mean a nurse must be there to go on the field trip. Period.
Sounds like a great field trip btw, hope she has a blast.

[Kaylee's Mommy]

if she is in a public school the school MUST provide someone that can do her meter and give insulin, and glucagon.. it is NOT up to you... they should be understanding since you are having a baby right around then.. Don't let them put this on you.. THEY need to provide someone..

does sound like an awesome field trip that she shouldn't miss out on..

[wendyc]

First let me say that that sounds like such a cool field trip! Very Little HOuse on the Prairie:)

Our 504 states that in the event that either parent cannot attend, the school must provide a nurse or trained adult to accompany out child.

[momtojess]

504 or not, they MUST provide someone to go with her that can do all of her diabetes care, including glucagon.

[clb1968]

my daughter school has this very cool field trip every year for the 3r grade classes they get to go to an old time school house for two days ( only durning the school time they come home at night) anyways they eat lunches there have their snacks ect they will be there from 9:00 till 3:30 both days. They get to dress up in pioneer clothing make a coffee can lunch box do home work on black boards its just something I dont want Samantha to miss out on. Well the problem is the dates they wil be going is Dec 18 & 19 the school is wanting me to go with her which I would say normally wouldnt be a problem but I am due to have a baby Dec 15th:eek: wow is that getting close. I cant even say maybe I'll go I am always late but then again what if I am not. Does the school have to have someone to give shots or do I have to find someone to go with her???? This week I did get Samantha to give herself her own shots:) she is afride grandma will be here while I am in the hospital having the baby and grandma's shots hurt...lol

This sounds like a very cool field trip. A nurse should have to go if a parent cant.
I was diangnosed at 21, so my parents never had to deal with my diabetes as a child.

A Dec baby is cool too. My bday is the 13th, that would be a good bday for the new baby.:p

[liasmommy2000]

They should provide one. Do you have a 504 plan and is that included?

Our 504 states that the school will attempt to provide one IF a parent/grandparent can't attend. Next year I am changing that, though D or not, I prefer to go whenever possible and it would be unlikely that I or my mother couldn't. But just in case...

What a pickle for you. You will either have a brand new baby or likely feeling pretty tired!

BTW-you must live near us. I'm pretty sure I know what school house you are talking about! We did that field trip in grade school, though I couldn't go for some reason which I can't remember now!

[lotsoftots]

BTW-you must live near us. I'm pretty sure I know what school house you are talking about! We did that field trip in grade school, though I couldn't go for some reason which I can't remember now!

You dont live too far from us..we are in Rochester Hills


UPDATE***

I went to the school today because I had to pick Samantha up, when I ran into her teacher. She asked me if I was for sure I couldnt come with them on the field trip I tried to explain that I have no ideal if I could or couldnt ( she is single no kids yet) that you just cant make plans on when a baby is going to come. So she then wanted my mother in-law :eek: to come along ok if I cant make it my mother in-law will be here baby sitting my 3 year old whom the school has already told me he cant come to the field trip. So then I was told to make sure Samantha knows all her own care and can give her own shots and test, and that she ( the teacher) will be an on looker. Ok I had asked for Samantha to be able to test in the class room and the teacher said no back in Sept because she didnt want to HAVE to watch her. In the end she took my cell phone number and said she would call me once they ( her and the school) figure things out.
Good thing I started working on this now instead of a few weeks from now..

[momtojess]

Make sure you stay on top of them.. If they dont make her do all her care on a daily basis because is able and willing to do so, then they cant say she has to be the one to do it on field trips!!

I would be making a call to the principal tomorrow, or the nurse, whoever does her usual daily care.

[Riley'sMom]

Your daughter is entitled to a 504. No excuses. Your daughter is entitled to the same extracurricular activities as all other students. The fact that the school cannot accomodate her needs alone demonstrates the need for a 504.

Either the school gives you a 504 that enables them to care for her or they have to cancel the field trip for all students.

I know that sounds harsh, but its the law. If they don't provide the trained personnel to observe and treat your daughter's medical needs then they are violating federal law. Crush them. Talk to the principal tomorrow and let them know the problem. Bring a written request for a 504 hearing and the reason (the field trip). Once you tell them in writing them I'm sure your state mandates they convene a 504 meeting within a short time. If you do this tomorrow the school should have enought time to react if they value their funding.

[BrendaK]

Who does her diabetes care at school right now? Can that person come?

[Riley'sMom]

What school district are you in? Let me know and I'll try to find the school districts policy. I checked out the MI DOE website and its a mess. Many school districts post their own regulations and policies relating to IEPs and 504s. Many times the local schools have no idea what they are but some administrator knew what they had to "say the policy is" in order to receive federal funding. Find that policy and then skewer them with it. Anything short of a 504 is a temporary stop gap measure.

ryan

[lotsoftots]

What school district are you in? Let me know and I'll try to find the school districts policy. I checked out the MI DOE website and its a mess. Many school districts post their own regulations and policies relating to IEPs and 504s. Many times the local schools have no idea what they are but some administrator knew what they had to "say the policy is" in order to receive federal funding. Find that policy and then skewer them with it. Anything short of a 504 is a temporary stop gap measure.

ryan
We are in the Rochester school district.. when I went in when school first started EVERYONE was clueless!!!

[Riley'sMom]

Check these out.

http://www.rochester.k12.mi.us/download.aspx?ft=NzE1Mnx8fDAuMC4wLjB8fDExLzEyLzIwM DcgMTA6Mjc6NTEgUE0%3d

http://www.rochester.k12.mi.us/download.aspx?ft=NzE1M3x8fDAuMC4wLjB8fDExLzEyLzIwM DcgMTA6Mjc6NTEgUE0%3d

Also check out the 2000 section regulations at: http://www.rochester.k12.mi.us/index.aspx?folder=9765&name=2000%20-%20Instruction

Here it has some limited info on their 504 procedures. Check out the 'Field Trips' regs here also as they refer to these as co-curricular activities for which the school is responsible for student safety. Seems to apply to your daughter.

Also know that the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act refers specifically to endocrine disorders as a qualifying physical handicap. Sometimes you have to check out the special ed regulations as some schools mistakenly lump in all disabilities as special education even where instructional accomodations aren't necessary. The bottom line is the school is responsible for your daughter's health and welfare from the start of the school day to the end of the school day and if they schedule other extracurricular events then the school's responsibilities are extended to that time. Most schools don't know anything about diabetes. Sometimes they just need to be educated and then are willing to do the right thing. Other times they need a 2x4 to the face. I like to use their own regulations as the 2x4 (its more productive and doesn't result in jail time).

As you can tell I am passionate about this. I hate ignorant teachers and administrators who just say 'no' out of laziness or ignorance. Either way they need to be crushed.

Good luck.

Ryan

[twicker1]

I don't remember if you said how old your children are. How old is your oldest? Is it possible for a sibling to go? We just had a 504 update meeting on Friday for Brandon. Last year the district (and their attorney) said they would provide a one page care sheet on a field trip. Phooey!

Luckily, a low went into effect in May 2005 that covers SO many things pertaining to diabetics in school, and there have been several updated FAQ on how to implement the law. I think they finally get that they don't have a choice in providing someone on a field trip. I plan on going, but you know that things come up... Not to mention when he is in 3rd, 4th, 5th grade and he might not WANT me to go.

[Riley'sMom]

It'll be a lot cheaper for the school to spend the money now to make accomodations then it will be after sometime goes wrong and they pay for it in court because they knowingly put your daughter in an unsafe situation.

[vettechmomof2]

Luckily, a low went into effect in May 2005 that covers SO many things pertaining to diabetics in school, and there have been several updated FAQ on how to implement the law.

I read this and was thinking that must have been a really bad low to make the law change, then realized it was just a typo for law. It made me chuckle.:o
Allene

[hughsfan30]

if she is in a public school the school MUST provide someone that can do her meter and give insulin, and glucagon.. it is NOT up to you... they should be understanding since you are having a baby right around then.. Don't let them put this on you.. THEY need to provide someone..

does sound like an awesome field trip that she shouldn't miss out on..


She is absolutely right, the school stating that you need to go is against the American with Disabilities Act, the school MUST educate themselves on how to care for a child with special needs whether they want to or not.
My sons school is trying to act the same way, 3 weeks ago he had his first hypoglycemic seizure, though it was here and at night the school knew about it as he missed the next day so now they act scared of him and try to send him home for every little reason.
My sister in law's mother works for the school district here and she told me that if the school insists on trying to put the responsibility of my son during school ours on me then all I have to do is walk in there and say "due process" and they will hop to it! Trust me everyone in my sons school knows me well...muah ah ah!! :mad:

[Tamara Gamble]

Hi, I'm from Michigan, and an ADA advocate. Yes they must send someone with her who is knowledgeable. Who usually assists her in the day? They have to accomodate her, 504or not. You can file with the OCR if they require you to attend in order for her to go. This particular issue is a complainable issue. I would tell them that you can't and they need to have someone accompany her that is trained. I would go from there. In the mean time you need to get her a 504 in place. Are they accomodating her in every other way? Have you spoken with them yet?

Tami

[BRANDYB]

I was told that if a parent can not go on a field trip then a nurse HAS to go. No questions asked.

[Tamara Gamble]

Most schools in Michigan don't have school nurses. In fact sixty percent of the schools in the USA don't have nurses so that is not even feasable. It needs to be someone that is knowledgeable about the child and knows how to treat the disease. No other requirements are needed. That would be like saying my son couldn't go with me somewhere because I am not a nurse. See what I mean.

Tami

[Riley'sMom]

Excatly Tami. Most of us here have no medical qualifications but take care of our children just fine. Inversely, we've met plenty of doctors and nurses who proved themselves incapable of caring for our children.

States have varying laws regarding who can or cannot administer insulin/glucagon, and who can monitor a child with diabetes in school. In VA the person does not have to be a nurse if a nurse is not present, but they do have to be a "Trained Diabetes Personnell." The TDP is trained by the district nurse usually and must follow the medical management plan as outlined in the 504/IEP. I prefer TDPs because they do what we write in the plan and not what they "think" is right based on their "extensive" training. We convinced out school to train 6 people to be TDPs, the teacher and two aides in the classroom, the principal, vice principal, and speech therapist. She is always under the observation of one of these TDPs, but her teacher understands that he is primarily responsible for Riley's health at all times. Knock on wood but its worked well so far.

Oh, and they do have a nurse at the school but she hasn't done a single finger stick or anything, fine by us.

ryan