Daycare, Camps, and Recreational Programs
Children with diabetes sometimes face problems participating in child care, camps, and recreational programs such as sports leagues. It's important to understand the legal protections available so that you can be an effective advocate for your child. The Association's position statement Care of Young Children With Diabetes in the Child Care Setting and child care brochure, Children with Diabetes & the Child Care Setting, helps parents and guardians to understand legal protections in the child care setting. Our child care tip sheet can help parents and guardians secure a safe and healthy child care environment for very young children with diabetes.
Training resources
Once you are familiar with the laws that protect your child from discrimination, you'll want to know what resources are available to help you secure diabetes care at daycare, camp, and recreational programs. The Association has developed training resources for the school setting that can also be used in the daycare, camp, or recreational program setting. You will also want to know how to create a written care plan, which can be modeled on our sample written school care plans such as the Diabetes Medical Management Plan (DMMP), and the Child Care DMMP for younger children in a child care setting. A written plan helps everyone involved with your child's care understand diabetes and their responsibilities.
Resolving challenges
Do you want tips on how to advocate for your child? Often, questions and concerns that arise in the daycare, camp, and recreational programs setting also arise in the school setting. Some of the strategies developed through the Association's Safe at School Campaign can be adapted to resolve challenges in the daycare, camp, and recreational programs setting but keep in mind that the law may not apply in the same way. Read more about resolving challenges and learn about how you can get help from the ADA with a discrimination issue in daycare, camp or recreational programs.
Diabetes litigation: Daycare and camps
Daycare centers, camps, and other recreational programs covered by the ADA and/or Section 504 cannot refuse to admit a child because he/she has diabetes, and may be required to provide services, called accommodations, to a child with diabetes to enable to child to participate in the program.
Legal protections in daycare, camps, and recreational programs
Children with diabetes have the right to the same opportunities to attend daycare, go to camp, and participate in community activities as any other child.
Daycare, camps, and recreational programs: State laws and regulations
Even though federal laws provide protection for children with disabilities, state law often impacts whether non-nursing staff at a daycare or other programs can provide insulin injections and emergency glucagon injections.