Would you gamble with a child’s health?

I am re-posting this message I received today because as many of you may know my daughter, Toni was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at age 3. She is now 9 and will be returning to public school next year. So, this causes grave concern for her father and I. We believe ALL children with medical conditions should receive the SAME academic opportunities as every other student. However, legislation like this would be very prohibitive. There is a link below you can click to TAKE ACTION if you feel led.

Thank You
Jennifer



Would you gamble with a child’s health? Of course not. But you should know that the California Assembly is currently considering legislation that would do just that.
Assembly Member Sandré Swanson has introduced legislation (AB 1430) that would severely limit the school personnel who can provide assistance to students who need to take medication, including insulin. AB 1430 would prohibit anyone except a licensed registered nurse from administering medication in schools.
As you probably know, California’s schools are facing an unprecedented financial crisis. Jobs are being cut at all levels. In this budget climate, there is no way schools will be able to hire an adequate number of school nurses to administer insulin, let alone meet the medication needs of students with other illnesses. If AB 1430 becomes law, parents of children with diabetes will just have to hope a school nurse will happen to be present when their child needs insulin. The ratio of school nurses to students in California is 1 to 2700…would you be willing to play those odds?
The American Diabetes Association has been fighting for years, both in the courts and in the state legislature, to make sure students with diabetes have access to insulin and other diabetes care in California’s schools. We are currently working with legislators in California to introduce a bill that will ensure students with diabetes have the care they need at school, but Assembly Member Swanson’s bill (AB 1430) would be a huge step in the wrong direction.
Contact Assembly Member Swanson today and let him know you are opposed to AB 1430. Click on Take Action Now to send your letter.
Take Action Now!
Thank you for being a Diabetes Advocate!
Lisa Murdock
Advocacy Director - Western Region
American Diabetes Association