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My son is 4 years old and I just enrolled him into a park district pre-school. The school told me after I enrolled that they will not be able to check blood sugar at school. That either I or my emergency contacts would have to be available if he were symptomatic or they would call 911. The school is at least 10 min. away from my house in good weather. Therefore, I cannot be very far and have no life for the 2 1/2 hrs. that he is in school because I may be called. This is crazy and I cannot believe they will not do this, even though I trained (quickly) 2 of the staff.—JC, Bartlett

"We were told that we would have to hire a personal aide for our daughter. The school doesn't want anything to do with diabetes and our school has a nurse!"—MD, Rockford

"I feel very helpless tonight after trying to write a 504 plan at my son's school today. I was told that unfortunately, they are not legally able to administer insulin, or glucagon, that only the school nurse can do this, and the school nurse has 4 schools she oversees, so often she isn't at my son's school when he might need her. What am I to do? Keep him out of school so that I know he's safe? Let him go to school and hope for the best? I'm scared, Ive contacted the school board, and the Office of Civil Rights, to try to find a way to force this issue, but it shouldn't have to be so hard for diabetic kids to just be able to get through the school day. It is painful for me to feel like an inconvenience to the school system because my son needs help at school. We need this law to pass for the kids."—EC, Joliet

"Children with diabetes cannot be discriminated against in educational institutions because some people may be "afraid" to take care of them. Awareness and education are key. It is especially challenging in schools that do not have a nurse on staff." —KG, Dixon

"I thought I would share a story, although not school related, but could be used as a basis for training, and the need for a "trained personal." My 76 year old mother, Type I, was recently ill, and became dehydrated. We took her to the ER in the evening. It was time for her Lantus. The nurses refused to administer it because she had not been eating and her current BG was 85. I spoke with the ER attending dr, and he refused to administer the Lantus. There was no need to give insulin if no food was given. Needless to say, at 10:30 the next morning her BG was at 475!! Her endocrine was then notified & helped rectify the situation.  A "trained" person in diabetes is sometimes better than a nurse and/or dr with a medical degree. They are only taught some of the basics and not all that needs to be done to manage a diabetic's daily routine.  Please continue to fight for the training of people caring for our children!" —ST, Palatine

"I am the only school nurse in a district with 7 type 1 diabetics in 4 different buildings, in 2 different communities. I can only be in one place at a time. It would be great to have additional nurses to help care for these children, but we need to be realistic, it is not going to happen. At least, not anytime soon. Therefore, it is very important that staff members are trained to handle a crisis situation. I support this bill." —Name Withheld

"My daughter, age 6, was diagnosed with Type 1 July 2006. She attends Moye Elementary School. I do have a 504 plan. The Principal, Nurse and Kindergarten teacher have all been wonderful. I'm very thankful for the care and support she receives at school." —JO, O'Fallon

"My daughter is 17 years old and in high school. At the beginning of every school year, the nurse sends out an e-mail to her teachers stating that she is diabetic and not to ignore her if she needs assitance. Last year, she unclipped her pump from her jeans and placed it on her desk, although it was still connected to her body. Her English teacher grabbed the pump off the desk, accusing her of having her cell phone in class. He yanked the infusion set from her stomach causing blood to spurt from the site. My daughter was beside herself with embarrasment and anger." —KS, Highland Park

"When my daughter was 7 years old she was diagnosed with Type I diabetes. We lived in Manhattan, IL and both my children went to the Catholic school that had well under 100 enrollment at that time in 2001. The school refused to help in any way shape or form and made me sign a waiver that if anything happened to her in school they would not be held responsible. They suggested that I hire a private nurse to be available to my daughter when she needed to check her sugar or use her insulin pen or that maybe we should have our kids attend a different school. We did finally involve a lawyer and had to threaten with a law suit. In the end she was allowed to check her sugar but we had to provide a biohazzard box for her strips and the kleenex she used to wipe her finger, it had to be supervised by my other daughter who was in the 5th grade at the time. She had to leave her class, go to the principles office and moniter her sister. We felt so discriminated against that we moved out of state to Florida to be closer to family. We have since moved back to Illinois and my daughter is in the 7th grade and here we have experienced the opposite end of the spectrum with these schools. The grade school and junior high have been great. It is such a shame that there are still some un-educated souls out there that are making it ridiculously difficult for children with diabetes to try and have a normal life, including the nurses that posted opposing what we are trying to do. They may be a trained nurse but they don't live with diabetes 24/7 like we as parents do." —BB, Mokena

"My daughter has had type 1 diabetes for 4 years and we are fortunate enough to have a wonderful full-time school nurse who tends to her and the other diabetics in the school. I think it is appalling that there are parents and children who have to struggle for this kind of care." —MS, West Dundee

"Students should be allowed to have full school experiences without worrying about their chronic medical conditions. With a minimum of education for the school staff that are willing this would be a possibility." —KA, Palos Heights

"As a mother of a Type 1 five-year-old, I can't begin to tell you how much this means to the whole family. I have been dealing with a difficult school district and spend a lot of time at school myself just to ensure that he is safe and his needs are being met. I would love to be in Springfield the day this goes through!" —KS, Peoria Heights

"Count us in this fight. My 8-year-old son was diagnosed a month ago and we are struggling at school. Things need to change and it won't happen unless they are required to." —LT, Brookfield

"I believe it is of utmost importance to support The Care of Students with Diabetes Act. There is absolutely no reason diabetic children should not receive proper medical care while attending school." —AM, Chicago

"No child should be discriminated against. There are realistic solutions and common sense applications for the care of diabetic children in school. I am appalled that it has taken this many years for legislation to come this far. I had no idea that these children had been passed over. Any sane and empathetic person would not hesitate to support this bill." —DL, Mokena

"I am a school nurse who has 5 diabetic students in my school this year. I am interested in hearing more about this, and totally support any change to allow these students to have the most normal school day possible." —CS, Mokena

"My daughter has had diabetes since entering kindergarten. When she started school, our district had one other child with diabetes who was in 3rd grade. They had never had a kindergartener with diabetes. Her teacher embraced learning what to do for her and has become the "expert" teacher. It made us so comfortable because the attitude this teacher had was "it has to be done to keep her safe!" The school did hire a school nurse part time. The nurse does not go with my daughter on field trips because my husband and I have taught her teacher what to do and they are fine with this. If only ALL schools could be like this!" —HB, Washington

"As a mother of a child with Juvenile Diabetes and a Certified School Nurse, I know how important this legistation is to ensure children with diabetes are safe and cared for by staff who are well informed. I give my support for this Act." —RC, Downers Grove

"We are very fortunate to live in a school district where the staff have been supportive and interested in learning more about type I diabetes. At the beginning of each school year we meet with my daughters teachers, nurses and the administrative staff to discuss her current med plan and review the 504 plan. Teachers have volunteered to learn how to use the glucogun and keep juice boxes in the classrooms for emergency lows. I know when I drop her off at school in the morning she is with people that care about her and know how to handle any medical problem that arises." —TK, LaGrange Highlands

"My son's school tried to discourage us from filing a 504. They refused to include the medical plan as part of the 504 and though they have a full-time nurse, neither she nor anyone else is officially designated to give glucagon shots. There are two buildings to the school, about a block away from each other, and no one in the second building is trained in the emergency care (nor is anyone in the primary building except the nurse). They say they will just call the fire dept. in case of a hypoglycemic emergency." —MD, Flossmoor

"My daughter has been fortunate to be in a school where she has received tremendous support. Unfortunately, I have heard many stories of children who do not receive support. We should do everything we can to support these children and their families in caring for their present and future health." —NF, Lake Forest

"I have a niece with diabetes who has already met resistance regarding her testing and insulin injections in preschool." —CJ, Chicago

"We have come a long way with the quality of diabetes care in schools, but there is need for improvement. Schools need to provide care during extracurricular activities too, including access to insulin. Even if your child wears a pump, someone should be there to supervise a bolus. We needed this legislation years ago!" —CM, Naperville

"When my daughter was diagnosed, her school set up a wonderful plan to make sure she stayed safe and healthy and this planning has carried over to her high school years. I know this made me feel secure sending her off to school everyday." —PF, Park Ridge

"My daughter is on an insulin pump. Fortunately, she can test whenever and where she needs to. It is a miserable life of ups and downs and hopefully this legislation will make schools help our diabetic children by attending to their needs." —LK, Park Ridge

"I am scared. My daughter will be in grammar school in a few years and our school nurse is not very swift. My son has medical heart problems and she totally blew them off. Did you know that a daycare told me they can’t give shots? I couldn’t go to work!" —KDT, Plainfield

"Care in my grandson’s school has been abysmal with him being sent home often because his readings are too high or too low. This shouldn't happen. When he was first diagnosed the principal of the school suggested that he be home schooled as school might not be the best place for a diabetic child. Terrible. Something needs to be done in the state of Illinois to meet the needs of all children in a better way. Please pass this bill." —LF, Lockport

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