If you would like to read my first letter click here
I received the response from the Minister of Education a few days ago however because it was in pdf format and I was unable to copy and past the letter right to my blog so I decided to print out the letter and type it out here for all of you to read :) therefor there may be some typing mistakes that were not in the original letter.
Dear Ms. _________
My colleague Dwight Duncan has forwarded to me your concerns about the level of support for children with Type 1 Diabetes in Ontario schools. Thank you for writing. I appreciate the opportunity to respond.
A part of the Ontario Healthy Schools initiative, principals, teachers and other school staff play an important role in ensuring the health and safety of all students, including those with diabetes. Our government has provide boards with funding to help create a healthier learning environment. The ministry continues to work in partnership with boards, teachers, principals, students, parents and others to help all students do their best in school. Further information on the Healthy Schools initiative is available on the ministry website at www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/parents/healthyschools.html
School Health Support Services are provided to children and youth in publicly funded and private schools, and to children and youth who are being home- schooled. Policy/Program Memorandum No. 81 (PPM 81) was issued in 1984 to ensure that no school-aged child was denied access to education because of special health support needs during school hours. PPM 81 outlines how the responsibility for the provision of health support services is shared among the Ministries of Education, Health and Long-Term Care, and Community and Social Services. (Responsibility for a number of children's services handled by Community and Social Services was later transferred to the Ministry of Children and Youth Services.) PPM 81 can be accessed on the Ministry of Eduction website at www.edu.gov.on.ca/extra/eng/ppm/81.html.
OK let me just take a short break at this point.... are you all still with us??? because honestly I'm kinda lost!! So lets re-group and get ready because there is more where that came from :)
According to PPM 81, "the designation of roles and responsibilities for health support services in school settings does not preclude, in emergency situations, the provision of a health service by designated school board personnel, administered in accordance with section 52(2a) of the Health Disciplines Act and section 10(c) of the Drugless Practitioners Act, and under the policies and procedures of the school board concerned."
Policies related to testing and self-regulating for insulin injections are made at the local school board level. Boards should establish or update their policies for the provision of these and other support services. Local health provision organizations, including Community Care Access Centers and other medical services providers, can provide valuable assistance and information in the development of such policies.
Some boards have created their own policies and protocols in accordance with the guidelines set out in PPM 81. For example, the Upper Grand District School Board and the Halton District School Board have diabetes management documents available on their respective board websites, as follow:
- The Upper Grand District School Board Diabetes Management document: www.ugdsb.on.ca/policies/protocol_diabetes-management.pdf
- The Halton District School Board Diabetes Management Protocol: www.hdsb.ca/ParentInfo%20Protocols/DiabetesProtocol2008.pdf
I trust that you will find this information helpful. I have taken note of your comments about the website diabetesinschools.ca and New Brunswick's Policy 704-Health Support Services.
Sincerely,
signed Leona Dombrowsky
9 comments:
I'm sorry but did she actually read your letter, because it sounds to me as though she doesn't have a clue as to what your concerns are and what you were asking of her. This must be so frustrating for you and I'm sorry that you have to deal with ignorant people like her.
Thank you anonymous, exactly my thoughts!! The only part of her letter that talk about any of my concerns or content in my previous letter was the very last paragraph of her letter. When she notes the website and policy that I mentioned in my letter. Very frustrating!!
I have no idea why it showed up as anonymous. I'm not in hiding! lol.
That is disappointing. After all the time you put into your letter, and the emotion, you get a form letter refering you to websites.
:(
Your fight won't be easy, but certainly it will be worth it in the end!
I honestly think they write all that mumbo jumbo in the beginning to get us to glaze over and get us off track. It sounds like the teacher on Peanuts - wah...wah..wuh...wahh...wuh..wah..
You must be frustrated and where are you to go from here. Are you supposed to wait and HOPE that the results in the July posting are what you want? That is right before the 2010/2011 school year. UGH. Hang in there.
Ummmmmm.....yyyeeeeaaaaahhhhh......
Not what we were looking for.
BLECH!!!! Good Lord!
PPM 81, after 26 years is finally being reviewed again and there are people out there in the club that are trying to effect positive change for the children. We need to keep up the noise so they don't forget.
Thank you Nicole for helping to keep our voices heard.
Verbage ... this is what qualifies her as a 'politician' ... all talk, no action. Putting it on paper makes it sound like they've done their 'bit' and covered their behinds but WHO who is to make it happen? We have an outdated version (1999) in the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board General Administrative Procedures #514.07 that very few, if any, school staff is aware of. Writing Bills and Policies is all well and good but enforcing them is more the issue. Accounts of where this written system has failed our children have been met with the Who's to Blame Game, so ... what to do? what to do? Never lose focus ...
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