September 01, 2010>Back to School with Diabetes? Know Your
Rights! If your child has diabetes, back-to-school time may pose
extra anxiety for parents as kids face the challenges of new
routines, teachers and, sometimes, schools. It's a big deal for
any child to go back to school, but for a child with diabetes,
every day is an important step in the journey of diabetes
management. Students with diabetes are protected by several laws
that prohibit discrimination due to diabetes, including the
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973. In addition, some children with
diabetes may be protected under the Individuals with
Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). A disability is defined by
these laws as a substantial limitation on a major life activity.
For children with diabetes, major life activities include, but
are not limited to, the major bodily function of the endocrine
system, eating, caring for oneself, thinking, communicating and
learning. In 2008, the Americans with