Updated June 08, 2015.
Diabetes discrimination at school is more common than you might think. There are certain laws, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) that can help parents prevent discrimination against their child and themselves on the job.
What Is the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA)?
The ADA is a federal law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities. It also protects against retaliation that may result from reporting discrimination.
This law applies to all public and private schools and day care centers except those run by religious institutions.
What Does the ADA State?
The Act states that schools cannot discriminate against a child with a disability. A disability is defined as a physical or mental impairment that significantly affects a person’s ability to perform major life activities. For a child with type 1 diabetes erratic blood sugar control might result in difficulty paying attention, keeping current with homework or taking notes.
If a child qualifies for having a disability, the school is required to make academic and other modifications so the student will have an equal opportunity to participate in learning activities without discrimination. A child with type 1 diabetes might need reasonable accommodations to take exams, finish homework or participate in certain class activities. A tutor or classroom aide might be provided to help the child accomplish these tasks.
Protection for Parents
The Act also protects parents of children with disabilities from being fired from their job or from unfair treatment because of his or her child’s disability.
This protection is in addition to other provisions made by similar anti-discrimination laws such as Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
Sources:
Hypoglycemia. American Diabetes Association. Accessed August 18, 2008. http://www.diabetes.org/type-1-diabetes/hypoglycemia.jsp
Americans With Disabilities Act. American Diabetes Association. Accessed September 8, 2009. http://www.diabetes.org/advocacy-and-legalresources/discrimination/employment/americansdisabilities.jsp
Americans With Disabilities Act Amendments Act. American Diabetes Association. Accessed September 8, 2009. http://www.diabetes.org/advocacy-and-legalresources/discrimination/employment/americans-with-disabilities-act-amendments-act.jsp