Yesterday my mom and I had a 504 meeting at the school with my principal, vice principal, teachers, and school phychologist. Mom and I made our own 504 so I cant get into trouble for anything diabetes related (like last year). However, the school is insisting on using their own 504 plan. I really dont feel comfortable with that, because they did this last year and their plan wasnt very well thought out. It left space for me to get into trouble, which I did.
There was no teacher around (gym teachers usually stay locked up in their offices so they dont have to deal with us), so a friend took me to the nurse (which is a long walk from the gym where we were) because my blood sugar was really high and my meter wasnt working. As soon as one of the gym coaches found out (not even my coach), she wrote us up along with our other friend who didnt do anything wrong to begin with. And this coach is a type 1. How dumb is that?
Anyway, the 504 mom and I created this year will ensure nothing like that ever happens again. It also has some things about Shyla, my alert dog, in there. Their 504 says nothing about Shyla.
So my question is are they allowed to force their 504 on us, or are we allowed to use our own?
Also, theyre trying to make it to where I cant take Shyla into the cafeteria with me. She's a service dog, and Ive never had problems taking her into restaurants with self serve buffets, which isnt that much different than getting lunch at school. This is a public school, NOT a private one. So if its a public school, then shouldnt Shyla be allowed wherever Im allowed?
This is very tricky. I’m a teacher with a background in special education, so I have dealt with some 504 plans. In my experience, the schools do need to use a specific 504 plan format created by the Department of Education. However, what goes in that 504 plan is a committee decision (teachers, parents, students, administration, or anyone else involved). Everyone has to agree on it. As far as Shyla goes, I think it really depends on the administration in your school system. One of the teachers at my school has a therapy dog that comes in and it’s no problem. I have read about a child not being allowed to bring his service dog into school with him at all in New York. I believe it’s still a pending case. I hope everything works out…I think it’s great that you’re involved in making the plan.
As far as I know it’s against the law for them to not allow you your service dog. Check the americans with disabilities act.Also try contacting the American Diabetes Association and explain your situation.I would even set up a consultation with a lawyer to find out what your rights are.Consultations are usually free.I hate when schools and businesses try crap like this ,it seriously makes me angry.
Brandi,
The 504 must be written in the “acceptable” format. The school can figure that out. But it is there to make sure you get the care you need so that you are safe. The school must take your input into consideration and add it to their 504 as seen fit. I believe that you have to sign the form after you find it acceptable. Don’t sign if you don’t like it. They have to have these on file for every student that needs medical care while in the building. They need you!
As far as Shyla goes, she is service dog not a therapy dog. Service dogs go anywhere you go with the only exceptions being clean rooms such as a surgical room. If Shyla ever creates a problem then they can ask you to remove her and that you not bring her back. But Shyla has to be the problem not some previous dog, some idea of what a dog might do, or people’s reaction to Shyla. General rule if the public can go there so can Shyla. By the way students are considered “the public” in this case. If they give you issues talk to who you got Shyla from most companies and individuals that provide the dogs can recite the law from memory.
Schools are tough because they know that most students and parents won’t stand up for themselves even though most laws are written to protect the student. The primary job of the school is to educate you the very next thing is to make sure you are safe within their walls. Here in Washington the law is written that EVERY student MUST< feel>safe in school. That is a powerfull tool when I have to deal with the school as a parent.
Yeah thats what I thought, Crystal. I was looking on the Americans With Disabilities Act website and it states that service dogs are allowed wherever general public are allowed. Which should include where the students at school are allowed, right?
Mark,
Theyve never had me sign 504 plans in the past. In fact, I havent even been present for a meeting since middle school (Im going into my junior year of HS). Mom has asked me what I wanted her to bring up in the meeting (which she forgets alot of anyway), but everyone involved on the schools side has kept me in the dark about it, which I really dont like.
Does your Mom have to sign the form? Most documents like this have to be agreed upon by all parties(school administration, teachers involved with you, parents, and you if you are there). And you really should be there as this is about you. It is scary to me that they do not insist you are in the room. You know better than anyone else what you may need and how it may happen that you need it. It is sad that they think they know better than the person with the disease what is needed. Every diabetic is different in how things affect them.
Brandi, if it’s like most other public education policies, ultimately, your mom has the power to decide what will be written into your 504 plan, as long as it doesn’t violate your state ed code. Your school cannot dictate to your mom anything about your 504 plan, or anyting else about your education for that matter, as long as her requests do not violate state ed code even though they try to do just that all the time. You as a minor, however, cannot make any of those decisions without parental approval, so, as far as I know, your mom can ask for things that you do not want written in or even disagree completely with. You should definitely be present when those decisions are made though.
I am a Type 2 diabetic. Why would you need a service dog? I don’t pretend to understand everything a Type 1 goes through but I all ways have an open ear.
Your story sounds very familiar and I do believe you have written about this before on Tudiabetes. Is this correct? If not I am sorry for mistaking you for someone else.
You have a remarkable story that you should share with the town you are living in and beyond the diabetic world. I strongly suggest you write down your experiences and submit them to the local newspaper or even to your school news paper. Call a television station and tell them your problems. Submit your story to a young adult magazine and such. In your article, ask people to contact the school board and the principal, administration of the school. Writing letters may be pain but it is an effective way of getting things changed.
Has your mother contacted the school board in your area? It may be this particular school that is being rotten.
The last thing the school wants is to be humiliated because they are denying proper a health situation for a child that is diabetic. Its cool for them to act shady with your mother but in public with reporters would be totally embarrassing. Writing about your expereinces will be therauptic for yourself. I know this must be frightening to know you do not have support for your illness at school.
When more people and young adults climb out of the closet and start being more vocal how unfair they are treated because they are diabetic more people will listen. You can’t be the only diabetic in that school.
Please keep us posted because in California they just shot down a similiar law for students to inject themselves on school ground. I am actively working with the team to try and get it going again.
The only recent ruling I’m aware of is the one where the state appeals court struck down a law allowing trained staff members to give injections to diabetic students who cannot inject themselves. They ruled that only the school nurse can do that.
As far as I know, that does not prohibit kids with diabetes who can inject themselves, or their parents, or anybody else designated by the parents, from injecting insulin on campus.
Summer break ends for us in a couple of weeks, then it’s back to teaching. I need to be up to speed on these things.
Christalyn-
I need my service dog because I dont feel blood sugar highs and lows anymore. My dog was trained by Betheden Kennels (who did an amazing job, i might add) to smell when my blood sugar is high or low. Ive had her since June, and she does AMAZING!!!
Yes, I have written about this before. My friends Kelly (that took me to the nurse) and Mindy (who didnt do anything to begin with) both told their parents about them getting into trouble. So the school got it from 3 sets of parents, and refused to do anything. I guess since its been a year its kind of too late to do anything abou it.
I’m a teacher with a background in special education, so I have dealt with some 504 plans. In my experience, the schools do need to use a specific 504 plan format created by the Department of Education. However, what goes in that 504 plan is a committee decision (teachers, parents, students, administration, or anyone else involved). Everyone has to agree on it. As far as Shyla goes, I think it really depends on the administration in your school system. One of the teachers at my school has a therapy dog that comes in and it’s no problem. I have read about a child not being allowed to bring his service dog into school with him at all in New York. I believe it’s still a pending case. I hope everything works out…I think it’s great that you’re involved in making the plan.