school unfair?

[onemadmom]

Pennsylvania

2 years ago my child was diagnosed with Hyperkalemia, Chronic Gastritis, and gets bad migraines. School has all this on file with the nurse from her many specialists, and also how to deal with her. They have medicines provided by me, along with her notes from her doctors for her to have the stuff. She is on a diaretic, daily medications for her migraines and stomache problems. last school year 07-08 she had to be pulled out of school by her one doctor because they couldn't keep her hyperkalemia under control because the school neglected to make sure she was drinking her water, a combination of the diaretic and water is what keeps this condition under control, and the condition is life threatening. She was out of school at that time a total of 4 months. The other time at school she was at home more than she was at school. They just didn't wanna deal with her i guess! Any time there was a problem they automatically called me to come get her. This school year 08-09 she has been at home more than at school, cause again they dont wanna deal with the issues she has i guess. Today the nurse called me to come and get her, i could hear her screaming and crying in the background. After i picked her up she was still crying and told me the nurse got in her face and was yelling at her, to go back to class, threw tissues in her face, escorted her to the bathroom, went and washed her hands and then came back to her and said calm down and then shut the door while she was still in the bathroom. I am so tired of dealing with this on a daily basis, she has always been a straight A student the other day she brought home her first B and i was like ummm ok this isn't normal for her, i'm afraid her grades are gonna start suffering now from all this, she no longer likes the nurse or trusts her, my child is in 2nd grade she shouldn't have to deal with this kind of treatment so my question is what do i do and how do i get them to give her the same treatment all the other kids at this school get!! I have had to get her doctors involved before because of all this and i'm having to do it again. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?

 

[wyett717]

While each and every child deserves equal education opportunities, you have to realize that an elementary school is not a babysitting service, nor a doctor's office. Your average public school will make reasonable accommodations to provide for your child's medical concerns, but babysitting her all day to make sure she drinks enough water is not reasonable, and could be to the disadvantage to the other students. Based on your post, your daughter needs medical support which may be too intensive for the school to provide. You might look for a facility in your area that caters to medically fragile individuals. Or, you might want to explore the possibility of hiring an aide to accompany your daughter to school to ensure that her needs are met.

 

[Humusluvr]

I'm going to agree that the school cannot properly care for her medical condition. You should ask for her to be placed in a homebound student program.

Its not that they don't want to deal with her, her condition may be more than can be handled in the normal school environment.

 

[onemadmom]

While each and every child deserves equal education opportunities, you have to realize that an elementary school is not a babysitting service, nor a doctor's office. Your average public school will make reasonable accommodations to provide for your child's medical concerns, but babysitting her all day to make sure she drinks enough water is not reasonable, and could be to the disadvantage to the other students. Based on your post, your daughter needs medical support which may be too intensive for the school to provide. You might look for a facility in your area that caters to medically fragile individuals. Or, you might want to explore the possibility of hiring an aide to accompany your daughter to school to ensure that her needs are met.

the water isn't the issue...she knows enough now that she HAS to drink it, i just stated it was a problem lastyear, and the school made it an issue then because i have it in WRITING from them that they would make sure she drank it and they didn't... NOW the issue is i'm tired of the school sending her home 2-3 times a WEEK cause they cant or dont wanna deal with her stomach problems! they have rolaids and food provided by me with a doctors note for her to have these things at school for them to give her when this issue occurs. and how the nurse treated her today!! is it customary for a nurse to put a kid in her personal bathroom and shut the door on them cause they are crying? they have been doing nothing to try to help her STAY at school...and i agree they are not a babysitter, but they are REQUIRED by law to provide every child an education, how can they do that if the nurse is sending her home all the time? i just dont understand this all....

 

[wyett717]

The school is sending her home because they don't have the ability to care for her. Yes, you have provided them with medications and such, but that does not obligate them to keep her in school when she is ill. The frequency of the issues seems to be the concern; going to the nurses office at least 2-3 times per week is a significant problem for the nurse, but moreso for the child. Your daughter's medical condition is too severe for them to safely manage, as they do not have the resources to provide her with what she needs.

 

[Perky]

I have to disagree about the school's responsibility. It shouldn't be a problem for the nurse to see your child 2 or 3 times a week if the medications actually relieve the problems. By that reasoning, diabetics wouldn't be allowed to attend school since they often have to visit the nurse 2 or 3 times a day, and also have to have a snack at certain times during the day. For younger children, the nurse and the classroom teacher share the responsibility of making sure the child adheres to the schedule.

However, if your daughter's symptoms are not relieved, then the nurse is correct to send her home.

You might want to consider an evaluation for a 504 plan for your daughter. She has a medical disability that should qualify her. With a 504, the school will be required to make accommodations to guarantee that your daughter receives the education she is entitled to receive.

 

[wyett717]

I agree, the nurse and teachers do have some responsibility for the health of the child. But if the symptoms are continuously unrelieved by medication, there is only so much they can do to treat her. And a diabetic child is a different situation. That is usually controlled fairly regularly and shouldn't warrant several undpredictable trips to the nurse. School nurses are also more familiar with the disease because it is quite common.

 

[Perky]

OP did not state that the symptoms were continuously unrelieved by medications. I actually think she inferred that the nurse didn't even try to treat the child with the supplies OP left with her.

Regarding diabetes, it is not always so easily controlled and can result in several unpredictable trips to the health office.

As a health professional, the nurse should be able to respond to any health ailment for which she has received instructions and medications from a doctor. She should not be excused from putting some effort into treating OP's child just because she may be more familiar with diabetes. That strikes me as somewhat discriminatory.

 

[wyett717]

We do not know that the nurse has not tried to treat her. My argument is simply that OP's child has a serious health condition that requires significant care and attention. If the school is not able to provide the amount of care (which seems quite extreme in this case), OP should arrange for someone to help the child at school. Schools are not obligated to treat each and every health condition, especially if they are beyond the school's/nurse's ability to safely do so. As I said earlier, even if they attempt to treat the child, there is only so much they can do to provide relief before the child should be sent home.

I was speaking very generally about diabetes, I did not say "always". Regardless, it is a common affliction amongst school-aged children, and nurses are better equipped to deal with such a situation.

Since the situation is significantly affecting the child's attendance at school, it is up to mom to seek further medical advice so her daughter can get back on track.

 

[Perky]

Well, my state board of ed, the administrators in my district, my principal, and the nurse at my school will be very surprised by your information.

OP, get a 504 plan for your daughter. Talk to the principal or special ed director. If your daughter's doctor feels that her medical issues are manageable in the school setting (and clearly he does), then a 504 will help.

 

[wyett717]

What is so surprising? That the school is not willing to become a nursing facility for this child? Please post back when you find out that this is what should happen.

 

[Perky]

With your wild assumptions and lack of knowledge of the ADA, it is clear that you do not have the qualifications to answer the OP's questions in any legal sense.

 

[Nativity]

Wouldn't IEP be better suited for this instead of 504?

 

[wyett717]

No wild assumptions here, I just read the post. I'm not denying the fact that the school should provide medical care to the students, but in this case it seems extreme for what a typical school would encounter.

I know plenty about the ADA, thank you. OP never once mentioned anything of the sort about a disability. If one is determined, it will be a different story and will also qualify the child for more intensive supervision at school.

As was posted earlier...

Its not that they don't want to deal with her, her condition may be more than can be handled in the normal school environment.

 

[lealea1005]

Wouldn't IEP be better suited for this instead of 504?

No. An IEP is an educational plan for learning disabilities like ADHD, speech & language or dyslexia. A 504 plan would appropraitely address her physical disabilities and make accommodations for them.