In June of 2018, the Yukon T1D Support Network contacted Yukon’s Department of Education after securing information that some children with Type 1 diabetes (T1D) were not receiving necessary health supports while at school. A brochure outlining basic health recommendations accompanied a letter to the Department. This letter, crafted with feedback from the Canadian Paediatric Society (CPS) and Diabetes Canada, identified that Yukon received a poor grade in its management of T1D in schools by the CPS, and clearly stated that Yukon was failing in its support for children with T1D. Our organization further offered forward some policy services that could benefit children and the department.
In July, 2018, the Yukon T1D Support Network received a response from the ADM of Schools and Student Services in defense of the existing Administration of Medication in Schools policy. Rather than opportuning the department to be mindful of the benefit in changing policies to reflect the landscape of T1D management in Yukon, the response letter highlighted Yukon’s defense of a policy that is not only deficient in its support of children with T1D, it is behind much of our nation’s standards for T1D management in schools. Yukon also upheld its immediate interests through its correspondence with CPS, advocating for the current territorial position in spite of CPS providing Yukon a grade of ‘poor’ because of the territory’s lack of T1D policies.
Since that time, our organization has continued to secure real world evidence that indicates little progress to relieve Yukon of the substandard grade has been achieved. From parental anxiety in sending kids to school to rationing insulin in effort to stave off a schoolyard low, lived realities of families indicate that the policy in its current form isn’t supportive of children with T1D. From very young children to teenagers, all kids are deserving of school experiences that support their active and equal inclusion. Policies that are disease-specific help in these efforts.
Across Canada, many provinces and territories have developed or are in the process of developing guidelines for the care of children with T1D in schools. Links to each of these initiatives is located at the end of this letter. In a public statement issued October 1, 2020, fellow Minister Pauline Frost stated that your government is “proud to lead the country in supporting individuals with type 1 diabetes”. Actions that work toward the benefit of persons with disease are certainly a worthwhile endeavor, and we trust that your government’s leadership statement extends to school-based T1D policy initiatives.
We are in process of developing a community-based advisory committee that can help the Department invest in the knowledge necessary to make informed decisions in its policy development. We trust that your government will take seriously these grassroots undertakings and will continue in its efforts to lead the country in supporting individuals with T1D. Together, we can create a safe and supportive educational experience for all.
Thank you for your consideration,
Board of Directors, Yukon T1D Support Network
Provincial Standards
British Columbia
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/…/diabetes_support_in_school…
Alberta
https://open.alberta.ca/…/ed-104305-type-1-diabetes…
Ontario
http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/…/pmc_diabetes_fact_sheet_en.pdf
New Brunswick
https://www2.gnb.ca/…/K12/policies-politiques/e/704AH.pdf
Nova Scotia (currently updating)
http://www.kidsnus.ca/NSGuidelines.pdf
Prince Edward Island
https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/…/school_diabetes…
Newfoundland