This is a special edition of your parents' e-newsletter. In this
special edition, you'll find:
1. Teachers Vote Against Children with Diabetes
2. American Family: Living With Diabetes
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1. Teachers Vote Against Children with Diabetes
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Last week we told you that the American Federation of Teachers (AFT)
would be voting on a resolution opposing the training and use of non-
medical personnel to provide routine or emergency care to students with
diabetes. We asked you to contact AFT with your own thoughts about why
that resolution is dangerous for our children with diabetes.
More than 6,000 of you responded - an unprecedented and astounding
number. Thank you for listening!
We have just learned that the AFT did indeed pass that resolution. AFT
staff reported that it passed "without opposition". Furthermore, the
organization has even put out a new brochure that urges teachers and
non-medical school personnel not to provide care if asked, even if they
have been trained by a diabetes expert. You can read the brochure (in
PDF format) here.
http://americandiabetesassn.org/GoNow/a16366a107417a232535785a1
Angry? So are we. Because we know this is not in the best interest of
children with diabetes. Because it is dangerous. Because the health
care professionals who have devoted their lives to caring for children
with diabetes tell us that, in the absence of a school nurse, non-
nurses can - and should - be trained to safely provide the care that
children with diabetes need in school. Because this system has worked
in schools around the country that have used trained non-medical
personnel. Because parents of children with diabetes understand what
care their children need and what training it takes to provide it.
You, and the 6,300 others who joined you, explained all of this to AFT.
You wrote from the heart - as parents, friends, advocates and health
care professionals - about the needs of children with diabetes that
cannot be ignored when a school nurse is not present. Thank you for
your overwhelming support. And save your strength-- because this fight
is not over and we will need your help again in the near future.
We will continue to keep working with AFT in an effort to minimize the
impact this resolution may have upon the health and safety of our
students with diabetes. Thanks to you, AFT has indicated a desire to
hold a meeting among the various interested parties to try to move
forward toward a resolution that is more acceptable to all involved.
Next steps:
We know that hundreds of diabetes advocates forwarded our original
email about this to their friends. If you were one of them, thank you.
While you were at it, we hope you signed up to receive ADA's Advocacy
E-Alerts. If not, please go to this page and sign up today:
http://americandiabetesassn.org/GoNow/a16366a107417a232535785a0
Please ask your friends & family to sign up as well.
Together, we will educate the educators.
Again, thank you very much for your time, effort and passion on this
issue.
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2. American Family: Living With Diabetes
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While some groups are working to move diabetes care backwards, others
are bringing it into the forefront.
GoodLife Television's program "American Family" will air its premier
broadcast, on "Living With Diabetes" on Sunday July 25th at 8pm.
The show features the dramatic journeys of two very different people
living with diabetes. One is Jay Hewitt, an attorney from South
Carolina who has overcome the struggles of type 1 diabetes to become a
world-class athlete. Jay has competed in Ironman competitions around
the globe.
The other person is Toni Bethea, age 8 and a third grader in
Washington, DC. Toni has had to learn to adapt to type 1 diabetes and
all that it brings while trying desperately to live a normal and
healthy life.
Check out the website www.americanfamily.tv for more information about
these stories. For more information about diabetes, visit your American
Diabetes Association at www.diabetes.org
...
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This e-newsletter is brought to you by the American Diabetes
Association and contains helpful information for parents of youth with
diabetes. This information is not intended to take the place of your
doctor's recommendation. Consult your doctor before making any changes
to your child's diabetes care.
Do you have a question or comments about something you've read in this
e-newsletter? Tell us! Send an e-mail to wizdom@diabetes.org and tell
us what you think or what you'd like to see in future Parents' E-
Newsletters.
A mother of a diabetic child writes a
Response to the AFT's Goal of Blocking Diabetes Care Legislation
(by Crystal Jackson, Government Relations Department, ADA).
From the American Federation of Teachers webpage on Diabetes Legislation:
"The American Diabetes Association (ADA) is lobbying heavily for legislation in states that would provide care for students with diabetes in schools. ADA's model legislation would require schools that have a student or students with diabetes to train three school employees to become 'trained diabetes personnel' who would be responsible for recognizing and treating symptoms of diabetes in children. These school employees would be trained annually and would not be required to have any previous healthcare or medical background or training.
AFT's school nurses are concerned about the lack of participation by school nurses in this legislation. Rather than ensure that children receive the best possible care in schools, this legislation often removes the school nurse from the process."
Additional
Information/Materials from the AFT:
