So I am happy to report that after some hmmmming and hahing, run around, etc. Colby's preschool is going to allow him to at least come back for half days for now. I am happy with that and of course will have to train staff on highs/lows, and sick days at least. I say for now because at first they tried to offer me "home-based" which was impossible for me the single working full time mom. Then they were checking into who could actually perform his lunch time check and possible injection...in that it might have to be me. Next to impossible with my work schedule. For now this will work, but they have a fight coming for him to be back to full-day preschool. Keep asking questions, and get the "We're checking into it", or "Waiting to hear back from Corporate" only works with me for so long. This is my son, who loves school and we are talking about somewhat simple care when compared to other children with disabilities...is it really that hard? I definitely get the liability issue, but all that takes is a legal document.
Anyways, happy for now. Anyone else have major issues with school that forced your legal hand...so to speak?
Not really, as soon as I started mentioning testing and possible injections, it was like I wasn't speaking any English. So a better solution and full day pre-school is in our future, just happy to get the half days for now. As if we don't have enough going on already.
We had a lot of issues regarding the whole daycare and diabetes diagnosis. They didn't want the responsibility and I looked into larger daycares and in the beginning, no one would take her.. SO I ended up having to stop working altogether. I could have contacted the state to mandate that a daycare take her.. but I was uncomfortable doing that as who's to say they would have done a good job if I had the state force them to take her. :(
Anyway, about a year later, one facility contacted me back and said NOW.. they'd take her for 3hr/day, (FOR DOUBLE WHAT I PD FULL TIME AT THE OTHER ONE) and 3 hr isn't even a half-day of work, plus travel time as it's in another direction completely. I bet there are more people out there with similar situations too, especially in smaller towns where there aren't many type 1's to begin with.
Now my daughter just entered school, and guess what? More issues. I pretty much had contacted other states and civil rights groups and JDRF and tops of school and our state. A lot of battles when there shouldn't be, especially since that's why there are school laws, for children with disabilities, special needs, medical issues..etc.. We are in a better place now, but I think we still hold a little anger toward the whole situation. These are our children and we want the best for them. We don't want them to feel any more different than they already do. They already know things are different for them. They already want the diabetes to go away, and they have this for the rest of their lives.. so I feel the least schools, daycares, etc.. can do is jump on board, be willing to learn, and know we are here to support them, just as we support our children through this process. I know I rambled.. I just have a lot of strong feelings about this subject. Parents already go through so much with the diagnosis that they don't need more stress added to their already full plate. Good luck to anyone going through this and JDRF is a wonderful resource.. I promise. And there are lots of websites with sample downloadable forms to show you your rights.
There ar laws that protect your children here is something I grabbed off of the JDRF website maybe this can help:
Laws Protecting Children with Type 1 Diabetes
The
educational rights and interests of children with type 1 diabetes
(juvenile diabetes) are protected by several federal laws, and
sometimes state laws as well:
• Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
states that no "otherwise qualified handicapped individual" can be
excluded from programs or activities receiving federal financial
assistance simply because of his or her disability. The handicap is
defined as an impairment that substantially limits one or more of such
persons major life activities. "Programs or activities" include all
kinds of schools as well as social services like day care centers. The
Act gives parents of children with type 1 diabetes the right to
develop, with the school's agreement, a plan to accommodate any special
needs as a result of the condition.
• The Americans with
Disabilities Act (ADA), enacted in 1990, sets forth laws that
essentially mirror many of the requirements of the Rehabilitation Act
of 1973.
• The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
(IDEA), a federal law passed in 1975, mandates that all children
"receive a free, appropriate public education regardless of the level
or severity of their disability." IDEA also provides funds to assist
states in the education of students with disabilities and requires that
states make sure that these students receive an individualized
education program (IEP)—a written statement of the educational program
designed to meet a childs unique needs. A fundamental principle of the
IEP is the right of parents to participate in the educational
decision-making process. You should be involved in the development of
your child's IEP, and the school is required to accommodate you
regarding meeting times when you may discuss and formulate the program.