Although we’re still in the height of summer, it won’t be too long before the school bell is ringing. While most parents are somewhat relieved to get their kids off the couch and back into a routine, for parents of CWDs, it can cause all new headaches and grief. Even on the receiving end as a student, I remember just how gosh-darn complicated it was!
Hallie Addington, mom to Sweetpea, is getting ready to send her daughter to school for the very first time. She shares the same concerns as all parents, but with an added twist: she’s also a teacher! How will a teacher manage her own child at school? Hallie gives some useful pointers for parents who are preparing for a whole new school life with diabetes, and prepping their 504 plans …
A Guest Post by Hallie Addington
At the end of the summer, my little girl will be going to kindergarten. Kindergarten! How did this happen?!? Where did the time go?!?!
Of course, I have the normal concerns that every parent has as their child goes off to school for the first time. Will she find friends in her class? Will she do well in school? Will she listen to her teacher? Will she be OK?
But when your child is also a child living with diabetes, that opens up a whole new world of concerns!
My daughter, Sweetpea (not her real name), was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in April of 2009. She had just turned 3 years old. We have been living with diabetes for over 2 years now. A mere drop in the bucket, but long enough to realize what we are up against. We’ve dealt with this disease long enough to know that we need to be prepared.
And school is definitely something we feel needs a lot of preparation in order for it to be the most successful experience possible for everyone involved.
My perspective is somewhat unique. Not only am I the parent of a child living with diabetes, but I am also a kindergarten teacher. (Teacher by Day… Pancreas by Night… and Day!)
Before Sweets was diagnosed, I had NO CLUE about diabetes. None. I knew the symptoms (that ended up coming in handy….) but not much else. I have had students in my class with Type 1 before. But I never understood the disease. No one ever really told me anything about it – other than to hand me a paper filled with faces showing the different symptoms of high and low blood sugar. That was it. The extent of my knowledge. In other words… I knew nothing.
I distinctly remember being in the hospital with Sweets during diagnosis and feeling so incredibly HORRIBLE that I had not known. It didn’t take much education for me to realize how DANGEROUS it had been. The person who had been responsible for these children when they were at school had not understood anything about diabetes. No one had told me that diabetes was life-threatening. No one told me that things could change in a heart beat. No one told me how difficult it was to achieve good control… especially in a newly diagnosed child. No one told me that blood sugar can effect a child’s ability to learn and concentrate.
I felt TERRIBLE. I wondered if I had made these families lives harder due my ignorance. And I vowed that it would never happen again. Not in my classroom. Not in my school. Not if I had anything to do with it.
Here are a few things that I did to make Sweetpea’s transition to school a little easier on everyone involved. First, I created an information sheet about Sweets. It includes her picture, her specific symptoms of high and low blood sugar, what to do in an emergency, who to call, etc. Substitute teachers will have this on hand. I also give one to every teacher who will have Sweets in their class (Music, PE, Art, etc.).
I put together a kit for her to keep in the clinic that contains all kinds of extra supplies. Items to treat a low, glucagon, extra pump supplies, an extra meter, extra strips, extra lancets. You name it, it’s in there. I also made a kit for her classroom that contains an extra meter and testing supplies, fast-acting sugar, and an information sheet. I have asked that Sweets (or an adult) carry that kit with her whenever she leaves the room. This is in case there is a fire, tornado, lockdown, or drill of any kind. She will always have access to a meter and fast-acting sugar.
We have created a 504 plan for Sweets. Some might think it silly because everything is going well and I’m in same school building… but I think it is important to have this plan in place when everything is going well… so that if it should not go so well — what we need is already there. I know some may not think it’s necessary because people have gone to school for years without a 504 and been successful. But I look at it like this: It’s like getting a continuous glucose monitor. Yes, for years people lived without them and were fine. But if you can get one — and if it can help — why not?!? You can view our 504 plan by clicking here.
I am also available to go into the classroom to talk to the class about diabetes. Or I can give the information to the teacher if he/she prefers. We use our JDRF Rufus bear and books to talk about diabetes. Sweets will show off her stuff and really enjoys talking to her class about her pump and her Dexie. (I do leave this up to Sweetpea. If she does not want to talk to the class — we don’t do it.)
The last thing I do is make sure that I communicate with her teacher. Most teachers want to help and want your child be successful. Most teachers can get scared by something like diabetes. The best thing you can do is to communicate. Explain type 1. Explain what happens when blood sugar is high or low. Explain how you feel about birthday parties and snacks. Be very clear. Be open and willing to talk about diabetes. Be willing to make accommodations and help out if/when needed. I have even offered to give little information or training sessions. You can find lots of great information and resources on the internet at places like the ADA’s Safe at School campaign.
You can find more information on the stuff we provide to Sweetpea’s teachers and school by clicking here.
School is such an important part of your child’s life and development! I wish you all a wonderful and successful school year!
Thank you, Hallie, for the excellent tips coming directly from a teacher who knows what’s most helpful at school.
** Editor’s Note: Our Summer Guest Post Series comes to a conclusion today. We hope you’ve enjoyed this excellent line-up for 2011. A huge thank-you to all who participated, and all who read and commented here! **
Thank you, Hallie, for sharing these great tips and resources. I was very nervous sending Ally back to school after her diagnosis, but thanks to you and others in the DOC, I feel very well prepared this year.
Thank you so much Hallie for the resources! When I was putting our 504′s together for the first time a few years ago, I was so lost. Many schools discourage families from submitting 504′s. But it is important to remember it is our children’s right to have one. Better safe than sorry.
wonderful post Hallie, thank you for sharing some great tips. Cara will be starting grade 1 and I’m starting to get everything ready for her and her teachers/school.
Unfortunately we don’t have a 504 plan in Canada and in Ontario we have no provincial policies or guidelines for teachers and principals to follow it is all up to the principal as to what they will allow. This information has been very helpful!!
KINDERGARTEN>>> ACK!!!!!!
Thanks for sharing. This stuff takes a long time to put together and it helps so much when we have a place to start.
Not having children or any desire to get them, your post still hit me for another reason: the “I didn’t know” thing. In highschool I had a friend who had Type 1 Diabetes, this was known and at times it played a role here and there. But mostly, it was out of sight.
Then, when at 21 I myself was Diagnosed with type 1, my evaluation of certain things we had done together changed so drastically. It was, as you say, rather emberassing in a way. I felt, well, a bad friend in a way.
On the other hand it also provides me with a better understanding that people their unawareness of Diabetes related things doesn’t come from a bad place, so I guess that overall the experience has made me more patient in explaining things and at the same time more aware of how others perceive it.
I’m glad to see someone else coming from the same position and using it for good
Great post, Hallie! Back to school can be a very stressful time. Thanks for offering such great tips and resources! I can’t wait to hear how Sweets likes Kindergarten!!!!!!
What a blessing to have perspective from both sides of the Kindergarten coin
Thank you so much for having me here today, ladies! As much as we might try to deny it, school is right around the corner! Hopefully I provided some useful tips – or at the very least, an “I get it”!
Good luck with Sweets in Kindergarten! She will be great. I had the same reservations with my son, diagnosed at 2 1/2 when he began Kindergarten. I also now work at an elementary school, and see these children from the school’s perspective. I must say that at our school, the younger children are in good hands. The only thing I must add to your post is the issue with substitute teachers. Sometimes they arrive at the last minute, and can often forget something. Even a Kindergartner needs to be taught by the parents and regular teacher to speak up, if something contradicts what she knows needs to happen.
Perfect timing!
As I am sitting here preparing Nate’s 504 for his 1st year at school — Preschool that is.
This post and you blog have been so helpful for me to get everything in order and feel like I am totally prepared for Nate to head off to Pre-K!
Thank you, Hallie!
Excellent post, Hallie! Sweets will do wonderfully at school, I’m sure – despite her Type I diabetes. I’ve had Type I for 39 years, and have been a school teacher (special area – rather than Grade K, 1, 2, etc.) for 16 years. The school that employs me does a great job of allowing the parent of a diabetic child to meet with all of the special area teachers beforehand so that they will no what to do in case of an emergency. We also have a WONDERFUL school nurse, though I realize not every school is so fortunate as to have a nurse at all. Make sure that your child’s classroom teacher keeps diabetes emergency information on the desk for substitute teachers, and, of course, that all special area teachers are also informed. That’s my 2 cents!
Oh Hallie…what a wonderful perspective you have as a teacher in the school. Your education and care info is on target. I found my eyes were definitely opened as a sub-school-nurse. WOW…and heck even as a nurse. I had no idea about the challenges our children would face at home living their day-to-day lives…let alone…in school. Love you and your support to all in the DOC.
What a wonderful guest post Amy and Allison…Thank you!
Hallie,
Nice post and it totally took me back to my experience with my daughter, Amy. Amy was diagnosed in the middle of her Kindergarten, besides being overwhelmed by diabetes, I was most horrified at how we were going to get her through each day of school. She’s now in middle school, beside a few lows and rogue cupcakes, we got through grade school just fine. Like you said, the most important tool is communications, talk with her teachers, talk with her friends so that if your daughter hits a low on the playground they will know to get help, and talk with the school nurse and front office people. They will be on your side. The other thing that really helped was getting Amy on an insulin pump before she started first grade. That made correction doses and averting lows much easier.
On a positive note about school, I’ve found that the routine of it can help manage diabetes a little easier. You’ll see next summer.
I know that SweatPea starting the knew adventure of school seems overwhelming and very scary. She is going to be just fine because you are going to do what needs to be done.
Wow, I never thought before about how scary it might be for D-Parents when their kid first starts school. As I was only 3 when I was diagnosed, I guess it was my mum and dad who had their concerns, but I was never made aware of these as far as I can remember.
Thank you Hallie, for such a great post! I’m sure that many D-Parents will feel a bit more relaxed after using some of your tips! Good luck to Sweetpea for when she starts kindergarten
When my Miss 2 was diagnosed my eldest DD was in her second year of school. It had been easy to send her off to school. All the usual things but fine. I kept thinking how hard it was going to be to send her to school with D. So many extra things to worry about and trusting others to keep her safe at a whole extra level to my other children as they have started school.
This is such a great post! Another resource that can be helpful is the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation’s Guide for School Personnel and Childcare Providers. Free brochures can be ordered by emailing info@drif.org. Check it out on the website here: http://www.diabetesresearch.org/document.doc?id=505
Great post Hallie.
I read this a month ago, and tried it yesterday, “just” talking to my son’s first-ever teacher. Within a minute I had dissolved into tears and was pretty much useless. Feeling ridiculous.