Note:

You do NOT have to live in California to voice your opinion!  California is the first state to pass laws requiring schools to care for diabetic children under the Americans With Disabilities Act.  However, the California Board of Nurses and Teachers Association filed an appeal so the final legal decision is on hold.  California could be the first state in the Nation to set a national trend requiring schools to provide onsite care for our children with diabetes.

If you have a child with diabetes in any school – please voice your opinion now – it could someday lead to legislative changes in your own state.

September 14, 2009

Dear Diabetes Families of California,

The California Assembly Select Committee on Child & Adolescent Health will be holding its second Hearing regarding diabetes care in California schools on Thursday, October 8^th from 1-4pm at the Capitol in Sacramento, CA.  Exact location details will be released shortly.

Chairman Isadore Hall and his committee are interested to hear from diabetes families so they can work toward finding an effective legislative solution that will enable all children with diabetes to be safe in California schools.

Please tell your story of diabetes care in California schools!

Tell our lawmakers about the incredibly difficult challenges that you and your child face every day to receive appropriate care at school.  Be it struggling to get a 504 Plan… to schools refusing to train personnel to administer insulin… to being denied access to field trips because there is no one trained to provide care… to losing your job or being unable to work so your child can receive care at school, submit your story by the September 17, 2009 deadline.

Follow the instructions below.

If you agree, be sure to include a statement you support the training of unlicensed school personnel to administer insulin and all aspects of diabetes care so that all children with diabetes can be safe at school.   Also, if you’ve had success with training school personnel, share that as well.

Together, we will make all children with diabetes safe at school.

Diabetes Parents & Advocates,

Lisa Shenson lisa.shenson@gmail.com Phone: (415) 328-3452

Jim Stone stonecwd@gmail.com Phone: (209) 740-6712

To submit your written story to Chairman Hall and the Select Committee follow these instructions:

1.  Please type your 1-2 page letter addressed to:

The Honorable Assemblyman Isadore Hall

State Capitol
P.O. Box 942849
Sacramento, CA 94249-0052

Include your full name/address/phone. Save your letter as a WORD or PDF file.

2. Via Email: Send your letter as a WORD or PDF file attachment and type the words

“Oct 8 Hearing – My Story” in the subject line of your email. Send to Chairman Hall’s aide,

Jim Given at jimgiven@msn.com AND send a copy to diabetescareincaschools@gmail.com

OR

send your typed or handwritten letter via U.S. Mail to the above address.