[blindkid] new law affects NJ students with diabetes

Carol Castellano carol_castellano at verizon.net
Wed Jan 6 22:22:36 UTC 2010


Hello Everyone,
  Lister Eric Calhoun suggested I send this info 
to the list, in case it would help some of our families.
Carol

Carol Castellano, President
National Organization of Parents of Blind Children
973-377-0976
carol_castellano at verizon.net
www.nfb.org/nopbc

New NJ LAW

A new law designed to help diabetic students will take effect Feb. 1.

The law creates individualized health care plans 
for students with diabetes and training in diabetes care for school employees.

Under the new law, students capable of 
self-managing their diabetes will now be 
permitted to do so, provided a parent or guardian gives the school permission.

Parents wishing to allow their children to 
self-regulate their diabetes must notify the 
school nurse of their child's condition and 
intent and provide written proof from the child's 
physician that he or she is capable of caring for his or her diabetes.

Following the notification, the nurse will 
develop an individualized health care plan and an 
individualized emergency health care plan for 
each student, which would be authorized by the 
student's parents. These plans will be updated at 
the start of each school year and whenever a 
student's medical condition dictates. The child's 
physician, the school nurse, school employees and 
school district won't be held liable for civil 
damages resulting from the actions authorized by the plans.

Students on an individualized health care plan 
will be able to self-manage their diabetes at any 
time and anywhere on school grounds, so long as 
it is provided for in their plan.

The law also provides for a uniform set of 
guidelines for the training of public, charter 
and nonpublic school employees in the care needed 
for students with diabetes, to be developed by 
the state Department of Health and Senior 
Services. Each school must provide the training 
to at least three school employees at each school 
attended by a student with diabetes.

Additionally, school nurses will be responsible 
for the emergency administration of glucagon - an 
amino-acid peptide hormone necessary for 
maintaining proper glucose levels in the body 
-and may designate additional employees who may 
administer the hormone when the school nurse is not available.

"Diabetes is a disease that requires constant 
personal management," said Assemblyman Jack 
Conners (D-Burlington), a co-sponsor of the law. 
"But state law had required students with 
diabetes to visit the school nurse for any and 
all medication. That was at best unfair to their 
education and at worst dangerous to their health."

"Many diabetics have special dietary needs that 
include things normally frowned upon in the 
classroom, like snacking," said Assemblywoman 
Joan M. Voss (D-Bergen), a co-sponsor and a 
retired teacher. "Allowing students to manage 
themselves will help ensure their special medical 
needs are met with a minimum of interference."

"Requiring uniform training guidelines for 
teachers and administrators helps ensure that 
students with diabetes have access to proper 
emergency care should, God forbid, they need it," 
said Assemblywoman Cleopatra G. Tucker (D-Essex), a co-sponsor.

"Together with the self-regulation option, this 
new law will help students with diabetes continue 
to live healthy, active lives."

– TOM HESTER SR., NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM






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