Last week I met with our school's 504 team and finalized my daughter's plan for this year. In the past these meetings were somewhat routine. Going into a new school, with a more complicated schedule and a whole new cast of characters, I felt it important to do my homework and enter the process prepared.
Below are a few resources which might be helpful to parents who are entering the 504 process for the first time, or who are looking to make some significant changes or updates to one which is in place:
The American Diabetes Association has a Safe At School campaign. This includes a publication which they will send to you and/or your school. It provides comprehensive information about all kinds of diabetes issues which could arise and ways to handle them. The Safe At School section of the website provides links to additional staff training resources as well as sample 504 plans, and good advice about working with staff to obtain the best support for your child at school. There is also a very thorough section on legal resources. It explains channels through which to proceed should you be unable to secure a 504 plan for your child, or secure the reasonable accommodations you wish to have in there. Also helpful is a directory of applicable state laws which relate to diabetes in school.
The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation puts out a 'School Advisory Toolkit'. It comes as a hard copy from your local chapter, or is easily requested to download yourself. It contains an overview of the 504 laws and practical information to help put one in place at your school for your child. There are helpful samples of 504 accommodations as well as sample forms for different circumstances, such as one for a teacher to leave for substitutes.
Both ADA and JDRF have helpful back to school webcasts which can be viewed anytime through their websites.
Children With Diabetes has a page on Diabetes At School. It contains links to a multitude of resources. These include sample plans and forms, legal information, SAT testing rules and advice, and links to a variety of publications and websites which also deal with this issue. Unique to Children With Diabetes is the opportunity to look at past polls, message board conversations and ask the expert results around this issue. Reading how real-life situations have been resolved can be helpful in brainstorming solutions for your own.
A common theme throughout these resources bears repeating and emphasizing. Taking the time to make sure school staff understand a bit about Type 1 Diabetes will go a long way. Educate staff about the effects and dangers of high and low blood sugars and the process of keeping them at bay. Explain, with examples if you possibly can, how diabetes has affected your child's school day in the past. Use this information as the basis for making your requests regarding how your child's diabetes is handled at school.
Our 504 process ended with a mutually agreeable plan. More importantly, it ended with our school's staff having a better understanding of Type 1 Diabetes. Most importantly, it ended with an understanding that my daughter, the school's staff, our doctors, my husband and I are a team working together to keep my daughter's diabetes from getting in the way of a good education.
No D Day...Ha!
George over at Ninjabetic organized yesterday's 'No D Day' event. Diabetes bloggers were, for a day, to imagine that diabetes was not in the picture and to write about something else dear to their hearts. The latter was accomplished. The part about imagining there was no diabetes...no such luck.
It was a diabetes-heavy day. The school guidance counselor was busy pulling out my daughter's 504 plan. The e-mail came mid-morning, requesting a meeting this week to review its contents. This was followed by a flurry of activity. The meeting was set up. I dug out last year's version for review. I spent time on the phone with another diabetes mom from the school, comparing notes. I carefully considered both independently and with my daughter what needed to be changed in this year's plan.
As I was out photographing my zinnias, the phone rang. A pseudo-low blood sugar had sidetracked my daughter on the way to lunch. What was my opinion on treating it? A burst of diabetes-math resulted in a solution.
Envisioning the busy week stretching ahead of us, it became clear that our annual JDRF walk letter needed to be worked on yesterday as well. My daughter and I collaborated on it after school. Some serious diabetes conversation ensued, followed by a site change.
I love the concept of No D Day. It reminds us that we are multi-faceted people, with wide ranging interests. It reminds us of our hope for future days and years and lifetimes without diabetes.
Until then, it's always there, and it's rarely up to us when it will demand our full attention. Meanwhile, I'll settle for laughing at the irony of its intrusion on my No D Day, and go outside to weed my flower garden.
It was a diabetes-heavy day. The school guidance counselor was busy pulling out my daughter's 504 plan. The e-mail came mid-morning, requesting a meeting this week to review its contents. This was followed by a flurry of activity. The meeting was set up. I dug out last year's version for review. I spent time on the phone with another diabetes mom from the school, comparing notes. I carefully considered both independently and with my daughter what needed to be changed in this year's plan.
As I was out photographing my zinnias, the phone rang. A pseudo-low blood sugar had sidetracked my daughter on the way to lunch. What was my opinion on treating it? A burst of diabetes-math resulted in a solution.
Envisioning the busy week stretching ahead of us, it became clear that our annual JDRF walk letter needed to be worked on yesterday as well. My daughter and I collaborated on it after school. Some serious diabetes conversation ensued, followed by a site change.
I love the concept of No D Day. It reminds us that we are multi-faceted people, with wide ranging interests. It reminds us of our hope for future days and years and lifetimes without diabetes.
Until then, it's always there, and it's rarely up to us when it will demand our full attention. Meanwhile, I'll settle for laughing at the irony of its intrusion on my No D Day, and go outside to weed my flower garden.
Amateur Gardening
In my spare time, I fancy myself a gardener. In my imagination, I can create gardens to compete with Monet's at Giverny or those at Hampton Court Palace. In reality, I'm thrilled when plants survive the combination of harsh conditions and lack of attention to which I subject them. This season's successes are pictured below:
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| I had never heard of gazania before I bought a three pack at our local garden center the first year we were in this house. I bought them solely because I liked how they looked, but they're fabulous in a multi-purpose way. They are one of the few plants which seem to thrive on the south facing desert-like conditions of this front garden. This year, I filled the space with them, in a variety of cheerful colors. |
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| These roses love it here, which is great since I do very little to nurture them except spray them to keep the deer from eating them. Right in front of the huge bay window. They very boldly and carefully eat the leaves and leave the stems and thorns. |
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| The zinnias seeded themselves from last year and developed into this enormous clump of orange flowers encroaching on my front walkway. I'm afraid that if I tried to move them, I'd kill them. Fortunately that's not a purple mum they're sharing space with. |
Next year we plan to add a vegetable garden out back, and I'm looking forward to growing some green beans, cucumbers and lots of fresh herbs. We'll then cultivate not only beauty for our eyes, but salad as well! What better therapy than creating order out of chaos by weeding and designing a garden?
Want to see more entries or join in the fun of no-d day? Click here:
Sick
Most stories posted here and titled 'sick' would describe a home littered with test strips. They would include details about ketones and wild blood sugar fluctuations.
This story has a different angle. I am the one who's sick. This is day 4 of the illness, and I've decided it's likely I'll survive it. The doctor visit confirmed it's 'just a virus,' but it's the worst I've felt in a long time.
I've spent three days managing the activity of my household from one corner of the sofa. I am surrounded by tissues, drinks, phones, reading material and the remote. Yesterday, I managed to take my daughter to ballet class after school. Upon returning home I felt as though I'd run a marathon.
Unable to muster the energy for much thought, let alone activity, it's been necessary to prioritize. Despite sore throat and cold medicine induced delirium, there were still balanced meals to be made, carbs to be counted, sites to be changed, and blood sugars to be carefully considered. Unlike the rest of my daily activities, this part could not stop for a couple of days until I felt better.
My daughter has been an enormously good sport. While we usually share responsibility for making breakfast and packing lunch, and for managing the diabetes aspects of snacks and meals, she's taken most if it on herself. She'll go out to the kitchen and count out her snack, appearing at my sofa-nest to confirm her bolus before giving it. She's been helpful with meal preparation and with responsibly testing her blood sugar and adding her carbs before eating. Yet the questionable blood sugars were mine to decide how to treat, and site change had to be done.
It doesn't stop, this diabetes stuff. So hopefully this illness will, so I can get back to my pancreas duties and my daughter can get back to being a kid.
This story has a different angle. I am the one who's sick. This is day 4 of the illness, and I've decided it's likely I'll survive it. The doctor visit confirmed it's 'just a virus,' but it's the worst I've felt in a long time.
I've spent three days managing the activity of my household from one corner of the sofa. I am surrounded by tissues, drinks, phones, reading material and the remote. Yesterday, I managed to take my daughter to ballet class after school. Upon returning home I felt as though I'd run a marathon.
Unable to muster the energy for much thought, let alone activity, it's been necessary to prioritize. Despite sore throat and cold medicine induced delirium, there were still balanced meals to be made, carbs to be counted, sites to be changed, and blood sugars to be carefully considered. Unlike the rest of my daily activities, this part could not stop for a couple of days until I felt better.
My daughter has been an enormously good sport. While we usually share responsibility for making breakfast and packing lunch, and for managing the diabetes aspects of snacks and meals, she's taken most if it on herself. She'll go out to the kitchen and count out her snack, appearing at my sofa-nest to confirm her bolus before giving it. She's been helpful with meal preparation and with responsibly testing her blood sugar and adding her carbs before eating. Yet the questionable blood sugars were mine to decide how to treat, and site change had to be done.
It doesn't stop, this diabetes stuff. So hopefully this illness will, so I can get back to my pancreas duties and my daughter can get back to being a kid.
Diabetes Art Day
The blue circle is the symbol for World Diabetes Day.
The logo was created in 2007 to mark the passage of the United Nations World Diabetes Day resolution. It symbolizes the unity of all people of the world, under one blue sky, to conquer diabetes.
This art was created by my daughter with cardboard, marker,crayon and test strips for:
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| http://www.diabetesartday.com/ |
Early Reviews Are In
You may recall that we had a surprise when we opened our packet of information from the middle school. We learned that although we had met and liked the nurse in June, she had moved on. We would soon become acquainted with Mrs. Not-the-one-you-met-in-June.
We stopped by a few days before school started. My daughter proudly navigated our journey to the nurse's office where we met the new nurse. We reviewed my daughter's medical plan and her schedule. My daughter showed how she checked her blood sugar and programmed her pump. I provided an index card with every bit of contact information for myself and my husband and encouraged its use for any question, no matter how small. We left feeling comfortable.
Due to her nervous stomach as school has begun, my daughter has gotten to spend even more time than usual in the nurse's office. Throwing up in someone's wastebasket is a quick way to develop a unique and lasting bond. Whatever the reasons to get to know eachother, my daughter and the nurse are getting along. Things are going smoothly, diabetes-wise.
"All my stuff is where I can reach it, so I just go right in and check and show her what I am and how much I'm giving." The perfect balance of support and independence.
My daughter may pick up the phone and call me if she's uncertain about something. The nurse will do the same, asking good questions.
Most importantly, though, "she's nice." The minutes spent there waiting for juice to kick in, or for her stomach to settle down, have been pleasant and calming.
We're fortunate to be at a point in our diabetes journey where my daughter is fairly independent in the basic tasks of her care. She doesn't need a CDE or other accredited diabetes expert to manage her care at school. It's important that there is someone who can handle her diabetes if she becomes unable to do so herself due to a low blood sugar. She needs someone available who can intelligently walk her through any unusual diabetes circumstances.
On a regular day, though, she simply needs someone she's comfortable visiting 2-4 times a day and who can tell her a good story while she waits for her blood sugar to rise.
So far, so good.
We stopped by a few days before school started. My daughter proudly navigated our journey to the nurse's office where we met the new nurse. We reviewed my daughter's medical plan and her schedule. My daughter showed how she checked her blood sugar and programmed her pump. I provided an index card with every bit of contact information for myself and my husband and encouraged its use for any question, no matter how small. We left feeling comfortable.
Due to her nervous stomach as school has begun, my daughter has gotten to spend even more time than usual in the nurse's office. Throwing up in someone's wastebasket is a quick way to develop a unique and lasting bond. Whatever the reasons to get to know eachother, my daughter and the nurse are getting along. Things are going smoothly, diabetes-wise.
"All my stuff is where I can reach it, so I just go right in and check and show her what I am and how much I'm giving." The perfect balance of support and independence.
My daughter may pick up the phone and call me if she's uncertain about something. The nurse will do the same, asking good questions.
Most importantly, though, "she's nice." The minutes spent there waiting for juice to kick in, or for her stomach to settle down, have been pleasant and calming.
We're fortunate to be at a point in our diabetes journey where my daughter is fairly independent in the basic tasks of her care. She doesn't need a CDE or other accredited diabetes expert to manage her care at school. It's important that there is someone who can handle her diabetes if she becomes unable to do so herself due to a low blood sugar. She needs someone available who can intelligently walk her through any unusual diabetes circumstances.
On a regular day, though, she simply needs someone she's comfortable visiting 2-4 times a day and who can tell her a good story while she waits for her blood sugar to rise.
So far, so good.
Fun and Functional
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| Re-purposing a tic-tac box for used test strips keeps (most of) them out of the bottom of the bag! |
Until about a month ago, we carried our diabetes supplies in their original containers. The meter, lancet and strips went in the meter case, with bits of tissue and a roll of smarties. Then there was a container of glucose tabs. And a juice box. And a separate bag with glucagon, a syringe, spare strips, spare batteries and more smarties.
It took us almost 10 years, but we finally realized there was a better choice. I invested all of about $10 in this cheerful little make-up case from Target, and now it's all together.
We were inspired by a friend who re-purposed a cute pencil case for her supplies. Why not keep these things we use so many times per day in something more fun than a black case?
We were also inspired by a greater need to keep all of these items in one place. It is increasingly common for my daughter to go places without me and my giant purse. She now does not need to rummage through the giant purse for the odds and ends of diabetes care, transferring them to a giant tote bag of her own. They are now all together in this handy bag for her to grab and go. We even chose this design over the flowery one so my husband could carry it more proudly for the walk to the library or around the park.
A great improvement in the fun and functionality of daily diabetes drudgery. For only $10!
This post is my September entry in the DSMA Blog Carnival. If you’d like to participate too, you can get all of the information at http://diabetessocmed.com/2012/september-dsma-blog-carnival-2/
It took us almost 10 years, but we finally realized there was a better choice. I invested all of about $10 in this cheerful little make-up case from Target, and now it's all together.
We were inspired by a friend who re-purposed a cute pencil case for her supplies. Why not keep these things we use so many times per day in something more fun than a black case?
We were also inspired by a greater need to keep all of these items in one place. It is increasingly common for my daughter to go places without me and my giant purse. She now does not need to rummage through the giant purse for the odds and ends of diabetes care, transferring them to a giant tote bag of her own. They are now all together in this handy bag for her to grab and go. We even chose this design over the flowery one so my husband could carry it more proudly for the walk to the library or around the park.
A great improvement in the fun and functionality of daily diabetes drudgery. For only $10!
This post is my September entry in the DSMA Blog Carnival. If you’d like to participate too, you can get all of the information at http://diabetessocmed.com/2012/september-dsma-blog-carnival-2/
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