Lessons learned: Teaching schools about the rights of children with diabetes.

摘要

It had been a year since the school nurse told Kimberly Shekalus that the 504 plan she wanted to set up for her daughter was unnecessary. A full school year since Shekalus and her husband were coaxed into developing an Individualized Health Plan (IHP) instead. It had been a year, and yet conditions of the plan, set in place to ensure proper diabetes care for Shekalus's daughter Payton, still weren't being met. Payton had graduated from fourth grade in Manheim, Pa., and was ready to move into middle school for fifth when the school nurse pulled Shekalus aside. In a move that contradicted her previous stance on diabetes care in the school, the nurse insisted Payton needed a 504 plan to protect her rights and keep her safe. The Shekaluses agreed, and as soon as the nurse sent them information about the plan, they approached the middle school staff. "They said, 'Absolutely not. How did you get this information? Parents aren't supposed to know about this,'" Shekalus says. "I have never felt so belittled."