I didn't write the letter below. It was forwarded to me and I think it's well worth a read!
We in the diabetes community can learn from the persistence and perseverance of those in the autism and epilepsy communities. In addition to the good news in California for families in the autism community that SB 946 was signed into law today, which will require insurance companies to cover needed therapies, this past Friday also brought good news to the families of children with epilepsy.
Against the urging of his union allies, Gov. Jerry Brown signed into law SB 161, which explicitly allows non-medical school employees to administer anti-seizure medication to students diagnosed with epilepsy. The bill was introduced into the legislature by Sen. Bob Huff (R-29th Dist and Chair of the Republican Caucus), who fought long and hard to secure the bill's passage. Though the bill was opposed by the state's leading public employee unions (notably nurses, teachers and school support staff) with whom Democrats are usually closely aligned, the bill garnered support from both sides of the legislative aisle. School district officials and parents of children with epilepsy supported the bill, saying students need to be able to get anti-seizure medication even if they attend a school without a nurse.
In a statement to the press, Sen. Huff said it well...."This victory proves that a determined group of parents, doctors, schools and other citizens can overcome even the most powerful of special interests."
For those of us in the diabetes community, the issue is our children's right to receive administration of insulin and all aspects of diabetes care while at school. Our advocacy focus is to remind schools of their legal obligation to fully deliver related healthcare services to children with diabetes, and that per the current status within our state's judicial system, it is permissible for voluntary non-medical school employees to be trained to administer insulin and deliver all aspects of diabetes care for those times when no school nurse is available.
Know there is power in the hands of parents, doctors and schools to protect the rights of children with diabetes to receive appropriate care at school.
In partnership,
Lisa Shenson, Diabetes Parent & Advocate
Awesome!!