September 24, 2001
School and Daycare
Question from a Certified Diabetes Educator in North Carolina, USA:
School personnel of a local elementary school are refusing to learn how to give insulin injections that may be needed by a first grade boy with type 1 diabetes who does not self-inject. They are saying the legal ramifications are too great to train an apprehensive teacher to do the procedure as needed before lunch. The dose would be according to a written sliding scale using a Humalog pen. Even developing a 504 plan doesn’t make the staff willing to learn to do this for this child.
Both parents are trying to work full time and are experiencing workplace intolerance of their requests to leave during lunch and go to the school to give their son his insulin. I am meeting with the staff to educate them and to demonstrate and teach them skills they need to do this procedure. Is there any legal step on which they stand giving them the right to refuse to do this?
Answer:
If this child requires insulin at school and that is documented in his 504 plan, the school must train someone to give the injection. Parents are not required to go to the school to do this. I suggest that these parents contact their local American Diabetes Association affiliate for assistance with this matter.
On another note, neither parent should be penalized in the workplace for leaving (especially at lunchtime) to tend to child requiring medical care. They are entitled to do this under the family medical leave act. Again, the ADA may be of assistance.
See The Law, Schools, and Your Child with Diabetes.
SS
