Living with Diabetes

Here are some examples of our Safe at School efforts – both successes and one fight that continues.

Safe at School Campaign Garners Media Attention

This past summer the Association’s Board Chair, John W. Griffin, Jr., conducted a radio media tour with national networks and local stations in many of the top media markets to highlight the Safe at School campaign.  John gave 17 interviews— focusing on the plight of schoolchildren with diabetes in California and across the nation who are denied diabetes care in school—which were aired by over 2000 radio stations and network affiliates, reaching an estimated five million listeners. To hear an audio clip from his interview with CNN, click here.  Also, last spring, the San Francisco Chronicle published a front page story on the California case "Obama Administration Steps into Insulin Shot Fight"— highlighting the impact of the California policy on the Kline family and the Justice Department’s intervention in the case.

Illinois Victory Protects Students with Diabetes

On December 1, the Care of Students with Diabetes Act became law in Illinois. This critical legislation, which lets students who are able to do so self-manage their disease, allows trained school personnel to volunteer to help children with diabetes, and prohibits segregation based on diabetes, was originally passed by the state legislature in May 2010. However, Governor Quinn, exercising his amendatory veto power, returned the bill and requested that the effective date be changed from "immediately" to "June 2011," giving the opposition an opportunity to derail the bill. The state house overrode the Governor’s amendatory veto in November, and the state senate followed on December. 1. This is a major victory for children with diabetes in Illinois, and local Diabetes Advocates were critical in making this happen.

California Supreme Court to Rule on Access to Insulin for California Students 

For over five years, the American Diabetes Association has been fighting in the courts to ensure that children with diabetes in California’s public schools have access to the insulin they need to be safe at school.  This fight has led us through two lawsuits, and involved one landmark settlement, disappointing and frustrating decisions from a trial and appellate court, and a trip to the California Supreme Court.  And we’re still fighting.  Read entire story.

Ending Segregation in Florida

Tracy Milligan’s story explains why Diabetes Advocates fought for school legislation in Florida: Read entire story.

New Jersey Protects Students Facing Diabetes Emergencies

Safe at School legislation, which took effect on January 29, 2010, requires schools to take action to ensure that students with diabetes are able to manage their disease and have access to needed assistance while at school and at school-related activities. Read entire story.

Child Care Victory in California

While the school-age children diabetes continue to struggle (as discussed above), the youngest California kids with diabetes are now in a better situation thanks to a ground-breaking settlement just announced by the United States Department of Justice. Read entire story.

Individual Family Advocacy Successes

The Association provides direct assistance to hundreds of families each year whose children aren’t safe at school or in child care, or who are denied equal access to program services. 

Connor’s mom explains how education and negotiation often resolves the problem: 

"Thank you for helping me with school discrimination when Connor was in kindergarten. Originally, the school’s answer to all our requests was “No”: No field trips unless accompanied by me.  No glucose monitoring in his classroom. No designated substitute when the school nurse was out of the building. No training on low blood glucose for school bus drivers. No school plan for accommodating children with diabetes.

We called ADA, spoke to a Legal Advocate, and received assistance from a local ADA volunteer attorney. Connor now has a 504 Plan, and the school is doing a fantastic job keeping him safe throughout the day. The school has expanded his care during after school enrichment clubs, during tech camp, and during a 5-week summer school program. We have a wonderful new nursing supervisor, and she is one of Connor’s biggest advocates. I feel proud of accomplishing something for Connor and laying the framework to help other kids with diabetes."

- Amy Coffey, Connor’s mom

Other States

Across the country, Diabetes Advocates have worked to enact similar laws regarding diabetes care in schools as part of the Association’s Safe at School campaign. Typically, these laws ensure that trained school personnel provide assistance to students with diabetes and that students who are able to do so are allowed to self-manage their disease. Click here for information on the laws and resources for your state and for your state’s Safe at School tip sheet.

Learn how you can get help from the ADA if your child is facing challenges at school or child care.