{"id":49534,"date":"2018-09-04T08:18:53","date_gmt":"2018-09-04T12:18:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/asweetlife.org\/?p=49534"},"modified":"2018-09-04T08:18:53","modified_gmt":"2018-09-04T12:18:53","slug":"how-to-create-a-504-plan-for-a-child-with-diabetes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/asweetlife.org\/?p=49534","title":{"rendered":"How to Create a 504 Plan for a Child with Diabetes"},"content":{"rendered":"

When I first heard the term \u201c504 plan,\u201d I assumed it was the plan of action if your blood sugar if 500 mg\/dL.\u00a0 Which it is\u00a0not<\/strong>. \u00a0But my type 1 diabetes\u00a0diagnosis in 1986 left my family responsible for assembling an unofficial, ad hoc version of a care plan that worked for us and the school system; the concept of a structured plan being in place was beyond us, even though the groundwork for these plans was put into place in the 1970’s<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Despite growing up without a 504 Plan, I wanted to learn more about these smart plans to help protect students with diabetes.<\/p>\n

What is a 504 plan?<\/strong><\/p>\n

A 504 plan is named for Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which is a federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability. The plan itself is an outline for the actions taken by a school to ensure that a child with diabetes, or other health condition specified as a disability, is treated fairly. According to the American Diabetes Association, it\u2019s a \u201ctool that can be used to make sure that students, parents\/guardians, and school staff understand their responsibilities and to minimize misunderstandings.\u201d It\u2019s designed to help students with disabilities in public schools or publicly funded private schools create customized educational plans.\u00a0<\/p>\n

With so many variables in play for a child with diabetes, the need to minimize misunderstandings is important. (See also:\u00a0 making sure you don\u2019t give insulin if a child is low, which for some reason seems to be a common diabetes misunderstanding).<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve heard of a DMMP.\u00a0 But what exactly is that?<\/strong><\/p>\n

A DMMP is a \u201cdiabetes medical management plan\u201d and it\u2019s one of the key components of a section 504 plan, as it outlines specifics about your child\u2019s diabetes and includes details about how often to monitor a child\u2019s blood glucose levels, what the target numbers are, how to treat lows or highs, meal plans, and managing blood glucose levels during physical activity.\u00a0<\/p>\n

With technology like continuous glucose monitoring available to students with diabetes, 504 plans can also outline the necessary tech specs for families. \u201cThe students in our schools are not permitted to carry phones during the day. We have written in my daughter’s 504 plan that she is allowed to carry her phone at all times and wear an Apple Watch as both allow her to monitor her blood sugar,\u201d said Misty First, parent of a child with diabetes.<\/p>\n

How do you create a 504 plan for a child with diabetes?<\/strong><\/p>\n

The American Diabetes Association has created an excellent boilerplate 504 plan that you can download and modify as needed \u2013 click here to download the PDF version<\/a>. Children With Diabetes also has a series of sample plans created by parents from their network, and you can download those here<\/a>. For many families, a sample document can help inform the 504 plan, but if caregivers want a little more guidance, they can work with their healthcare team to create a plan that gives them confidence.<\/p>\n

Need a little guidance on more of what should be included in your child’s 504 Plan? The American Diabetes Association comes through again with a list of typical provisions<\/a> found in these plans:<\/p>\n