'We need to be prepared': NYC schools to ramp up accommodations for students with diabetes
For as long as two decades, New York City students with diabetes were regularly denied opportunities to go on field trips or participate in extracurriculars. Their schools often failed to develop individualized plans for the students in a timely manner as required by federal law. Most school staff lacked the training needed to keep a diabetic student safe, including in the event their blood sugar dropped to life-threatening levels.
This week, a federal judge formally approved a class-action settlement that requires the city’s schools to overhaul its supports for its nearly 2,000 children with diabetes, ensuring they’re included in all activities and have access to adequate education plans and staff who can keep them safe.
Advocates say the case, which was filed by several parents on behalf of their children, could have implications for districts nationwide.
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How federal law protects students with diabetes
Section 504 is a federal law that prohibits public institutions, such as schools, from discriminating against people with disabilities. Diabetes, as a medical impairment that substantially limits major life activities, is one such disability. It is one of the most common chronic illnesses, affecting 283,000 children under 20 across the U.S, and is growing in prevalence.
The law requires that schools develop plans for eligible children that details what actions should be taken to ensure the student is medically safe, has equal access to educational opportunities and is treated fairly.
Ideally, these 504 plans ensure multiple staff members know how to check blood glucose levels and administer both insulin and a hormone that can rapidly raise blood sugar in the event of hypoglycemia. They outline strategies for reducing the amount of learning time a kid misses while also allowing them exceptions to deal with their condition. They stipulate full participation in extracurriculars, including supervision and medical assistance when needed.
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These plans need to be highly individualized because of the varying regimens diabetics follow and the varying abilities of students to manage the condition on their own. And they’re critical because of what can happen if the care is mismanaged: Too much insulin can result in hypoglycemia, which can lead to seizures, coma or even death.
“If a school is not providing appropriate care and accommodations to students with disabilities, those students cannot safely access or participate in school,” said Crystal Woodward, director of the American Diabetes Association’s Safe at School campaign. New York City’s schools “weren’t delivering the plans in a manner where students would be safe and have access to accommodations early in the school year.”'
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Many school districts do a good job of creating 504 plans for diabetic students in a timely fashion, which Woodward attributed in part to the ADA’s advocacy efforts.
But where they’re often lacking is in ensuring school staff know how to provide diabetes care when a nurse isn’t available. More than 40% children have at least one chronic condition, whether it be diabetes or asthma or something else, yet schools nationally are short nurses. Less than half of schools have a full-time registered nurse, and 35% just have a part-time one. About a quarter don’t have one at all.
Given the lack of staff trained in diabetes care, schools often deny students the ability to join field trips and participate in sports if their parents or a nurse can’t join. They may be told they have to spend that extracurricular time in another classroom on campus because that’s the only place they can safely be.
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As part of the settlement, New York City schools are implementing a range of reforms, including diabetes care training for school bus drivers and other staff as well as an endocrinologist and diabetes educator for every bureau.
Woodward says these changes in the country’s largest school district will serve as a model – and reminder – for others nationally.
“We know there are problems in other school districts. Hopefully they will look at this settlement and say, ‘hey, we need to do better. … Let’s see what the gaps are in our district’s policy,” she said.
“Now, more than ever, we need to be prepared for the many hours children spends at school – to help them be healthy but also thrive academically and fully participate in everything that is part of the school experience.”
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Contact Alia Wong at (202) 507-2256 or awong@usatoday.com. Follow her on Twitter at @aliaemily.