The National Institutes Of Health's "National Diabetes Education Program"

Several Federal laws provide protections to children with disabilities, including children or teens with diabetes. These children must have full access to public programs, including public schools, and to most private schools as well. Students with diabetes are entitled to accommodations and modifications necessary for them to stay healthy at school and have the same access to academic, nonacademic and extracurricular activities as other students do. This means providing related services and aids for students with diabetes such as administering insulin and glucagon, providing help in checking blood glucose levels and permitting a child to have snacks during the school day.

A child's or teen's school should prepare a written plan that outlines the child's diabetes medical management plan and details the student's diabetes care regimen at school. It should include specific information about monitoring blood glucose; insulin; meals and snacks; treatment of hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia; and exercise and sports. The plan should also identify school staff responsible for making sure the plan is followed. The parents should be present during development of the plan. Any changes to the plan should be made only with the parents' consent. Ideally, the plan should be updated every year.

For information or questions about the Americans With Disabilities Act, call
1-800-514-0301 or 1-800-514-0383 (TDD), or go to www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/.