[blindkid] new law affects NJ students with diabetes

Mike Freeman k7uij at panix.com
Mon Jan 11 04:15:59 UTC 2010


Good show! Thanks for letting everyone know. This is progress!

Mike

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Carol Castellano" <carol_castellano at verizon.net>
To: <blindkid at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, January 06, 2010 2:22 PM
Subject: [blindkid] new law affects NJ students with diabetes


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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