Frustrated by public preschool's policy...Update #26 Good news!

[RubyV]

I wanted to get the ball rolling on registration for preschool, since dd is 2y, 9m.

I've just spent several hours dealing with the boston public schools. Apparently, they do not allow epi pens in the classroom, no exceptions. They don't have a nurse available for more than an hour a day either. I simply cannot send her to a public (free) preschool under those circumstances. And, it wont change in elementary school either.

Private preschools run on average of $15,000 a year. That's mroe than my college tuition! It's more than half my net pay! It's more than my current daycare bill!!

Can't send her to public school, and I cant afford private. This truly sucks.

More crap in a craptastic week. :

Any advice?

[oregongirlie]

That's horrible. My school (I'm a teacher.) offered epi-pen training to us and the nurse wrote us prescriptions so we could each go buy one to keep at the ready. They taught us that it was a major life saving tool. Perhaps there is some training program available? I'd start contacting politicians about this with backup information about how something so simple can save lives so easily. Children can have unknown allergies that can lead to anaphalaxis! This is just weird to me. I'd get politely pushy with everyone, for sure. Visiting congresspeople, etc.

[RubyV]

Originally Posted by oregongirlie

That's horrible. My school (I'm a teacher.) offered epi-pen training to us and the nurse wrote us prescriptions so we could each go buy one to keep at the ready. They taught us that it was a major life saving tool. Perhaps there is some training program available? I'd start contacting politicians about this with backup information about how something so simple can save lives so easily. Children can have unknown allergies that can lead to anaphalaxis! This is just weird to me. I'd get politely pushy with everyone, for sure. Visiting congresspeople, etc.

Apparently, it is against the law to keep any medications in the classroom. They are trained to administer, but it's useless if it's going to take 10 minutes to get the damn thing.

[Ruthla]

I'd say this is a discriminatory policy, because it effectively keeps allergic children out of the school.

They are required, by law, to accomodate children with disabilities. There must be some way to fight this legally.

[earthmama369]

It seems like an argument could be made that that's discrimination. Is there a nonprofit that handles discrimination against people with "disabilities" (I hate that term, but you know what I mean) that you could contact? They might be able to offer some legal advice, at the least.

[lotusbeans]

Doesn't this violate the Americans With Disabilities Act? Daycare centers are not exempt from it, and it seems not allowing access to essential medication is discriminatory.

ADA homepage

[alisonsvw]

hey mama

that stinks and I cant imagine why that is a rule. Im in Quincy, Have you checked into headstart? There are some great head start programs in boston that help low-moderate income eligible parents and kids. My kids both went, 1 "graduated the other is starting up in a few weeks. There is an epipen contanier in the class on top of the fridge in plain view, so no worries on that matter. good luck, lotsa hugs and peace
alison

[RubyV]

Originally Posted by alisonsvw

that stinks and I cant imagine why that is a rule. Im in Quincy, Have you checked into headstart? There are some great head start programs in boston that help low-moderate income eligible parents and kids. My kids both went, 1 "graduated the other is starting up in a few weeks. There is an epipen contanier in the class on top of the fridge in plain view, so no worries on that matter. good luck, lotsa hugs and peace
alison

I tried Headstart, but we make too much with me working now. But that's a whole nother rant. Her daycare is great, but I'd like her to have a greater exposure to other children, KWIM? I don't want to keep her in a buble because of her allergies, it's not fair to her.

[RubyV]

Originally Posted by lotusbeans

Doesn't this violate the Americans With Disabilities Act? Daycare centers are not exempt from it, and it seems not allowing access to essential medication is discriminatory.

ADA homepage

reading through now. Called Kerry's office and waiting for a call back.

[RubyV]

Kerry's office just called back a little while ago. They are calling Boston Puplic Schools and getting back to me tomorrow.

[bobandjess99]

ooohh.. i wanna know

[taz925]

You go girl!

[alegna]

Yep. It will take some time and effort, but if you make enough of a stink they HAVE to provide a way for your child to have a safe and appropriate public education. If that means having an aide on full time with your dd who is trained to use the epi pen, then they have to do that. But they have to find a way.

Good luck!

-Angela

[RubyV]

Originally Posted by alegna

Yep. It will take some time and effort, but if you make enough of a stink they HAVE to provide a way for your child to have a safe and appropriate public education. If that means having an aide on full time with your dd who is trained to use the epi pen, then they have to do that. But they have to find a way.

Good luck!

-Angela

Thanks, that's the hope. I heard that several families are sueing over this very issue, a few to force BPS to pay the private school fees, and others for damages for having to homeschool. I don't know what the outcomes are though.

[lotusbeans]

Good luck. I hope it goes well and is as hassle-free as possible.

xoxo

[TappinMamma]

I'm very interested in this thread, I'm having the same problem. My ds is going into kindergarten, and they will not let him have his epipen in the classroom. Its not so much this year I'm worried about (kindergarten is not allowed snacks, so there is no food in the classroom) (He is allergic to tree nuts) but next year when the kids get snacks in 1st grade, I think it will be a problem.

Currently his epipen is locked up in the nurses office which is down the hall, around the corner... etc. etc. and what if the nurse is on lunch? then the office has to be contacted to get the key and unlock it and... you get my point. My only other option is getting a doctor to sign something saying if an emergency he can administer his OWN epipen and then he can carry it in his backpack.

So A) How can he administer it to himself if he is in anaphylactic shock?
B) I don't want him to have access to it, he is 5!

I think this whole thing is nuts! I'm interested in what your school says, I'm only a state away in NH.

[lilyka]

:

seriously . .the whole point of carrying an epi pen is that it is "on you" and you don't have to go somewhere to get it. . . . I cannot believe this is even an issue. . . rediculous. you go girl!

[bdavis337]

Slightly OT, but a good friend began her homeschool journey b/c her daughter, a kindergartener at the time, has insulin-dependent diabetes. The school would not allow any school personnel to administer the insulin OR the glucose tabs she needed if her bloodsugar was out of whack. The tabs were emergency use only, and she was always unable to admin them to herself at that age. The would not allow the meds kept in the classroom, and they would not allow her mother to come to the school at lunch and admin the shots, they said it was too disruptive. E was able to do her own shots, but not always successfully. Rather than fight the system, the chose to HS. Similar setup, and they could have fought on discriminatory grounds, but they were already on a homeschool journey.

Good luck to you!

[mommy68]

My daughter is in a private preschool and medications of ANY kind have to be administered by parents except in dire emergencies. They won't keep anything locked up on the premises either. The parents have to schedule time to come on their lunch hour or other times throughout the day to give meds to their children and take the meds back with them. I'm ok with it.

The would not allow the meds kept in the classroom, and they would not allow her mother to come to the school at lunch and admin the shots, they said it was too disruptive.

hmmm...that sounds a bit *drastic* What school wouldn't allow a parent to come in at any time of the day for any reason, especially to administer important drugs to their child? Maybe she exaggerated on that one just because she wanted an excuse to homeschool. She could have sued a school that told her she couldn't come there to give meds to her child! That's ridiculous if it were true.

[RubyV]

Originally Posted by bdavis337

Slightly OT, but a good friend began her homeschool journey b/c her daughter, a kindergartener at the time, has insulin-dependent diabetes. The school would not allow any school personnel to administer the insulin OR the glucose tabs she needed if her bloodsugar was out of whack. The tabs were emergency use only, and she was always unable to admin them to herself at that age. The would not allow the meds kept in the classroom, and they would not allow her mother to come to the school at lunch and admin the shots, they said it was too disruptive. E was able to do her own shots, but not always successfully. Rather than fight the system, the chose to HS. Similar setup, and they could have fought on discriminatory grounds, but they were already on a homeschool journey.

Good luck to you!

The same happened to my ex's cousin. They livd on Long Island in suffolk county.