How unreasonable is it, and what can I expect as an outcome?

Question

The first grade has recess at 11:00, lunch at 11:30 and the next snack is at 2:30pm.

My daughter is a type 1 diabetic. Three hours is too long, especially where preceded by recess (exercise). I'm drowning in anxiety over here.

Gina can have her snack at any time I tell them she has to. We strive to make sure she has as much normalcy as possible though. And I think anyone with a special needs child gets where I'm coming from with that. She already has to have a morning snack alone (the other kids dont get a morning break).

How unreasonable is it to ask the school to accommodate a half hour change? What can I expect for a response?

Answer 1

I would say that it doesn't hurt to ask.

Answer 2

I was mortified in school that I stuck out like a sore thumb.  I would say the best thing to do is ask your doctor to adjust her insulin according to the schedule.  There are so many different types of insulin and they've come such  a long way that it shouldn't be that difficult.  

Answer 3

It's not at all unreasonable to ask the school to accomodate your daughter's snack time, earlier or later. Those people who have made nasty comments about this are just being jerks--so ignore them.

If you don't get the school to cooperate, then I have two words for you: home school. I'd do it until your daughter can regulate her own insulin and shots and snacks.

You have every right to be concerned about her health at school, and you need to exercise your rights.

Answer 4

Your request is not at all unreasonable.  You have a child with type 1 diabetes.  Her health is more important than you reluctance to raise a fuss, isn't it?  This isn't like being at a resturant and sending your iced tea back because it has too much ice.  This is important.

I personally would be more concerned about drawing extra attention to my child's differences, for her sake, then be worried that someone is going to view me as a whiner.  It's whining for a good cause, so there's nothing to feel bad about.

If I recall correctly, first grade is not that structured.  Don't they spend all day in the same classroom?  Why don't you just casually ask the teacher if she'll move the snack time a half hour earlier?  It shouldn't be a big deal to them.  And that way no extra attention will be drawn to your daughter's diabetes.

Or if that doesn't work, can't you change her schedule a little?  I mostly keep my daughter on a schedule.  But if her meals and snacks are interfering with her life I'll try to adjust them.  For example if I want to put her lunch off for an hour I can give her 5 grapes and her sugars will stay steady until it's time to eat.  If I know ahead of time I can give her a few more carbs at meal time and it'll have the same effect.  And then when snack comes along I give her a little less than what I normally would.

Of course, my daughter is on shots.  I don't know if being on a pump would be different.  Have you asked her endo about adjusting her schedule?

Answer 5

I don't think it's unreasonable.  It's not going to interfere with the entire school schedules, just one class's snack.

If the school is aware of her diabetes (our district requires that they register as disabled) they should be accomondating to any reasonable request (in the states),

Ask. It is a reasonable request, in my opinion, to move snack time up half an hour so she can safely maintain her blood sugar AND participate in a normal classroom treat.  If the teacher says no, go over her head to the school nurse or principle.  Get a written statement from your daughter's doctor if it'll help.  If they still refuse, hire a lawyer (private or through the local diabetes or disability association as some have lawyers on hand already).  Sometimes all it takes is a single phone call or letter.

You'll have to be able to advocate for your daughter for the next 10 or 15 years, so don;t back down on the little stuff because it can be really hard then to fight the larger battles if/when they come up.

Moving snack time could be a good opportunity to educate not just the teacher but the whole class.  There are child oriented books to explain what is diabetes, and if it won't bother you or your daughter to let everybody know, it would help other kids and their parents understand that there is a medical reason for moving snack time, not a personal nit-pick.

good luck :-)

Answer 6

So you want to ask the school to let the first graders have their scheduled snack at 2:00?  Or are you wanting them to change lunch time for your daughter's class?

I can tell you what the school will say if you're asking to change lunchtime for an entire class - they're going to say that your daughter isn't the only child in the class with medical conditions requiring careful attention to meals and meal times, and that it isn't humanly possible to schedule lunch to fit every student's special need.  They're also going to tell you that if they do it now when she's in first grade, you're going to ask them to change something in the schedule every year.

Many schools have too many children, more children than their lunch facilities can handle reasonably.  One year my daughter started the day at 8:15 and her lunch was 10:30.  School didn't let out until 3:15.  But the school was built for 600 students and they had 900, so they didn't have any options but to add earlier and earlier lunch hours.  Most parents sent in snacks for their kids who were in the very early and very late lunches, and the teachers were actually quite grateful!  

So your daughter's school may not have the option of changing her lunch hour simply because of the number of students.  Expect them to say no to that request.

Which is why you start with that request, actually.  You ask, they say no, and then you ask about changing snack time.  Your second request gives them a way to save face and appear gracious.  

Do you have a note from your daughter's doctor on file in the school's office AND a copy with her teacher?  It would be a good idea to have something in writing from the doctor explaining that her diabetes requires meals, snacks, and medications are carefully planned intervals.  

It definitely doesn't hurt to make the principal aware of your daughter's needs and how the school-day schedule interferes with those needs.  It also never hurts to ask for the changes your child needs.  Just be prepared for them to say no (because that's what bureaucrats do), and always have an alternative that is easier for them to grant.  

Your daughter's teacher isn't going to give her a hard time about eating her snacks whenever she needs them.  Well, usually - we've run into a couple of real hard@$$es during our daughter's years in public schools.  Even if you can't get a schedule changed, get the teacher on your side and she'll see that your daughter gets her snack when she needs it.  The other kids won't even notice that your daughter has an extra snack or an oddly timed snack after a few days.

Answer 7

Arm yourself with a note from her endo that says she has to have a snack every 2 to 2.5 hours and that it must be adheared to. Also the note saying she has to have her glucose testing done before the snack and any medications administered exactly on time.

It is very very important to keep her glucose levels tightly controlled. I know!!

The American Disability Act has a provision in it for diabetic children. I cannot remember the designation at this moment, but schools do not want to be hit with failure to care for children, aka: child abuse!!!

You do not have to threaten them, just state your facts and her health concerns.

She can always be sent to the Nurses station every day at the same time!!! This is for medical necessity. She can have her snack in the company of the nurse or a teachers aide and continue to do whatever assignment is at hand at the time.

Do get the note from the doctor to be placed in her files. It will probably have to be renewed every year, but that is a minor problem. You go to the doctor sometime just before school starts anyway.

Answer 8

It is not unreasonable for you to feel this way about  Gina's  condition and certainly not unusual/unreasonable for you to ask for a particular accommodation.

Unfortunately in to many cases there is a need for school teachers and administrators to become better educated about diabetes since it has become an epidemic in this country.

The first thing I would do is to speak to her doctor about this, I know of many that write a specific set of instructions for your daughter to follow when she feels the needs to do this, these instructions when given to the school administrators puts them on notice that they can be legally responsible for what may happen to your daughter in the event that something should happen to her in the event she is refused an accommodation that could jeopardize her health and possibly her life.

This is not something that you should ask for....It is something that you should demand, what your asking is not unreasonable by any standards.

Good luck

Answer 9

It is unreasonable to ask for the schedule the school has for EVERY other student be changed to suit you.

Helping her fit in and deal with her problem will not be accomplished by making the world change for her. That will not happen outside 1st grade.

She can go to the restroom/office/wherever and eat as she needs to, and thereby not disturb every other student.

The adult world will not cater to her. She needs to fit into the real world while caring for her diabetes.

Answer 10

What change are you asking them to accomodate?

if they need only to let your daughter eat a little earlier, then that's OK.

if you're asking them to mvoe the whole class up 30 minutes, that can be a problem.  It may be better to have your daughter change class, if that would change sechedules. otherwise, your daughter may have to take her break early, and th teacher may have to find something for her to do while the rest of the class is taking a break. -- but that IS bothersome.

My next question is, who determined that 3 hours is "too long"?  You need medical support for this.  Ask your doctor to get involved. You may need "proof" that three hours is too long -- and it may be that your daughter performs just fine during that time.

Answer 11

The school won't change lunch time or recess time to accommodate your child.  If the change first grade lunch/recess, they'll have to change all the other grades schedules.

When my son was in elementary school (he's 15 now),  I worked together with the nurse, the teacher, and the endocrinologist to find out when he'd need a snack and everything went smoothly.  

Three hours might not be too long, you'll just have to check her glucose levels at about 1:30 and maybe again at 2:00 to see if she needs a snack.  You may need to do this a few days.

It'll all work out, just gotta get the data first to determine what (if anything) you need to do between lunch and 2:30.

Since it's first grade, her needs may be different than in kindergarten.  I'd still work on getting the blood sugar data between 12:30 and 2:30 before asking for a change.

If it's necessary asking for a change in snack time shouldn't be a big issue for the teacher or school.

Answer 12

I am so right there with you!!! My son is in kindergarten (all day) and his lunch is at 10:35 with snack not until 2:30. On Thursdays he has not only recess but gym class as well in between that time!! Here's what I have been doing since we are now in the second week of school here in Virginia. He goes to the nurse at 10:20 to have his b/s checked. After lunch he goes back for his shot. His teacher gives him a light snack at 12:45 while they are doing their papers. Just something small like fruit snacks or a roll-up. Then he has his snack with the rest of the class at 2:30. I hate "calling attention" to my son's condition, but in the case of school, we have to be their voice and let everyone involved with them during the day know what is going on. I am going in to his class to explain to the other kids why "B" gets an extra snack and why he goes to the nurse. This is the first time anyone else has had to "take care" of my son. He's been diabetic since he was 16 months. It's your right as a parent to make the school comply with your "special situation." Good luck. Big hugs from one mom of a CWD to another!!!