RE: [IPp] Awareness is key
Cathy,
Thanks, I have considered home schooling before, but with 3 boys, I'm not
sure I would have the courage or strength to do it. We had mentioned (with
the principal)doing a 504 plan before school but I didn't do a formal
request. I will follow up with a formal request. I have heard several
people advise me to make sure he has a 504 plan in place before he goes to
middle school. For some reason, maybe only our middle school, it is harder
to get a 504 plan in place. We still have 1 & 1/2 years before we have to
tackle that. Thanks for all the great advice.
Faye
-----Original Message-----
From: email @ redacted
[mailto:email @ redacted] On Behalf Of Cathy Adams
Sent: Thursday, October 26, 2006 7:54 PM
To: email @ redacted
Subject: Re: [IPp] Awareness is key
Faye,
I consider home schooling my son at times as well. He's not in school yet
(only 3). I'm not sure if I will have enough courage to send him or not. I
don't want to send him unless a 504 is in place before the first day of
school. Maybe that's not possible but I don't know if I'd be comfortable
sending him otherwise. Our district is great for the school schedule -
primary school doesn't start until 9:15am.
Cathy
----- Original Message -----
From: "Faye Parks" <email @ redacted>
To: <email @ redacted>
Sent: Thursday, October 26, 2006 12:36 PM
Subject: RE: [IPp] Awareness is key
>
> Ryan,
> I'm sure we are going to encounter that as Grant gets older. Fortunately,
> in Elementary school teachers still view them as "little ones". I am not
> looking forward to middle school with him. Middle school is/was hard
> enough
> on my other two sons who are non-D. I make actually consider home-school
> when the times come. The only problem we are having right now, which will
> be addressed very soon, is my son has been tardy many days, usually when
> he
> wakes up high or low or when we have to make infusion set changes that
> aren't scheduled. We have received "form letters" stating that he has
> excessive tardies and if the "truancy" continues, they will have to
> contact
> Department of Social Services. We had the same issue last year and when
> we
> spoke with the principal, it was cleared up. However, it is very
> frustrating
> having to deal with Grant's medical condition and then having the school
> district threatening you to boot. We have not established his 504 plan
> yet
> but this will be one issue that will be addressed. His tardies are
> usually
> less than 5 minutes. I also think it's ridiculous that elementary school
> student's have to be at school at 7:40 am, anyway.
> Thanks for letting me vent.
> Faye
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: email @ redacted
> [mailto:email @ redacted] On Behalf Of Ryan Richards
> Sent: Wednesday, October 25, 2006 9:32 PM
> To: email @ redacted
> Subject: RE: [IPp] Awareness is key
>
> i'v had teachers who are nice about my pumping and others who look at me
> like
> i'm distracting the class. i did get introuble because i got tired of
> people
> looking and i stood up and said ok everyone look, i'll explain what i'm
> doing.
> teacher made me stay after and said i was out of line and i said why
> because
> i
> didn't do it your way. she called my mom and siad i had a smart mouth. my
> mom
> told me life was hard enough and she was glad i stood up for myself and
> she
> told
> the teacher that. she also told the teacher that if they embrace it with a
> positive attitude the class will follwo her lead.
>
> Yes, We are very fortunate. I am sooooo Thankful for our school and the
> administration. It's one of the reason we moved to the area.
> Faye
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: email @ redacted
> [mailto:email @ redacted] On Behalf Of Caryn Lee
> Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2006 11:22 PM
> To: email @ redacted
> Subject: RE: [IPp] Awareness is key
>
> Faye -
> You have a one in a million school who embraces what is best for the child
> not
> what is best for the school. Good for you. You go girl!
>
> Faye Parks wrote:
>
> I've been reading all of the excellent posts concerning awareness. I'm not
> sure if anyone else has had this experience. But When Grant was Diagnosed
> in
> second grade. We returned to school with "Rufus, the bear with Diabetes"
> and his book about Rufus Goes to School. I asked his teacher if they could
> read this book in class. It helped the other students to better understand
> why Grant might act the way that he does and why he has to go to the
> school
> nurse to get his finger stuck, why he had to eat snacks in class etc. It
> really did seem to help. One day, after reading the book, one of his
> classmates told his teacher that Grant did not look like he was feeling
> well. Grant would go so low at time, he didn't even recognize the
> symptoms.
> His teacher had him go to the nurse's station, accompanied by another
> student. As it turned out, his blood sugar was low and he needed a snack.
> Since then, at the beginning of every school year, Grant takes his bear
> and
> his book and they read it in class. This year, since he has been pumping,
> (Cozmo)he can check his blood sugar in class. At the beginning of school,
> we wrote a letter that went home to his classmates parents explaining that
> Grant has type I diabetes and that he would be reading a book explaining
> his
> disease. After reading the book, with his approval and his teacher's
> encouragement, Grant checked his blood sugar in front of his peers. They
> also had a question and answer session where his classmates could ask
> Grant
> questions and he would answer. This was very encouraging for all. I am
> pleased to say that he has a wonderful teacher this year who is very
> concerned about his care. She even offered to learn how to give a glucagon
> shot in the event that the school nurse was not available. His school has
> been very accommodating. His teachers have allowed him to eat his snacks
> without any problems. As a matter of fact, his teacher have allowed all
> the
> students to bring healthy snacks and works the "snack schedule" around his
> schedule. We are very fortunate that his school has a full-time nurse. She
> has been there since 1985. Grant is one of three children with Type I. the
> other two are twins that are in the second grade.
>
> Thanks,
> Faye
> Mom to 3 boys, Brian Non-D, Chris Non-D, Grant dxd 2/2005 pumping since
> 7/2006 Cozmo.
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: email @ redacted
> [mailto:email @ redacted] On Behalf Of
> email @ redacted
> Sent: Friday, October 13, 2006 10:49 AM
> To: email @ redacted
> Subject: Re: [IPp] Awareness is key
>
> In a message dated 10/12/2006 10:38:55 P.M. Central Standard Time,
> email @ redacted writes:
>
> I thought it was a good idea
> to do a finger poke before leaving - what looks I got from one mother in
> particular- she looked like she was appalled! The look on her face wasn't
> one of just surprise but of disgust or something! I didn't know how to
> react to this so I didn't say or do anything!
> Cammy,
>
> I can't vouch for school personnel, since I think experience in that area
> can vary widely, but it will get better with your child's friends and
> classmates
> and their parents as everyone gets used to Sebastian's routine. I remember
>
> when Dan was on shots both my best friend and the mom of Dan's best friend
> couldn't even look at him when he did a test or a shot at the table. They
> were
> pretty disgusted too. I wasn't about to have him slinking off to a
> bathroom
>
> to do those things. The women got used to it and it became a normal part
> of
> life for everyone who knows Dan. Last year he came home from an outing to
> Chicago with his new friends from high school (we live in the suburbs) and
> as
> soon as I picked them up from the train, one of the kids announced, "Dan
> forgot to bring his test strips and his poker!" And this was a kid who'd
> only
> known him a few months. In our experience, kids tend to be curious and
> then
> accepting. They learn quickly and they do look out for each other. Parents
> are
> a
> little trickier, but education and exposure will change their attitude. We
> did a lot of explaining when Dan was first diagnosed, and continue to do
> so
>
> whenever we need to. I think as you get to know these parents, you will
> probably be educating them one on one.
>
> Mary
> Mom of Dan, 15 (dx 4-01, pumping since 5-03), Chris, 23, Carrie, 19, and
> guardian of Mike, 19.
> .
.
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