NOTE: Joe does not have a Chromebook Confiscation history.
I
knew, over the years, we'd run into difficulties of not being
understood. Sure. We all deal with that in our day-in-the-life. I
guess I didn't think I'd be saying things like this to an educator:
'Not only is his access to his school day limited by treating and
waiting out lows, but to take away his Chromebook for the remainder of
the school day, because of his medical condition... limits his access
further.' My voice was measured. My temper in check.
The
blood sugar checking, the carb counting, and the insulin dosing are one
thing. Sure, at times, the numbers cause physical discomfort. Yes,
the management, the needles hurt. The thing about diabetes is... the
actual disease and the management are so enmeshed and interconnected
throughout our days and our nights that it is impacted by just about
everything; also, it impacts just about everything.
 |
About a month ago...
Joe
experienced a school day riddled with lows; blood sugars hovered from
the 50's to the 70's. He spent some time in the Health Office, but for
the most part he remained in the classroom. At one point in his day, he
left his Chromebook in a hallway. He forgot it as he was dealing with
another low. The Chromebook was confiscated for the remainder of the
school day. It was confiscated because it was unattended.
At
the end of the school day, Joe visited the Chromebook Confiscator and
let him know he had a medical issue that caused the infraction leading to
the "confiscation". The Chromebook Confiscator made Joe promise it
would not happen again. Joe promised. His Chromebook was given back to
him.
Within a week's time...a week where lows
were plaguing his days and nights...again, the Chromebook was
confiscated by the Chromebook Confiscator. Joe went to gym class. He
placed his binder and his Chromebook on a bench in the locker room; not
in his locker like the students have been instructed to do. You see, he
was nervous about going low during gym. The shakiness of his hands
make maneuvering a combination lock challenging; making access to his
belongings quite difficult. Even if a low was treated, it could take 15
to 20 minutes for him to feel better, for the shakiness to subside.
Joe did end up low. His Chromebook, gone from the locker room
bench...taken away for the rest of the school day.
So,
it is at this point... at Chromebook Confiscation #2 that I stepped
in. Joe needed an advocate. He was missing class due to
managing low blood sugars AND the only mechanism to access his work
electronically, at school, was being taken away from him. It was being
taken away from him because of diabetes, none-the-less.
I
spoke with the Chromebook Confiscator. I explained Joe's medical
condition. I explained how low blood sugars can impact executive
functioning. I explained when he feels low, he needs to treat the low
promptly. The Chromebook Confiscator's solution was when Joe feels low,
he could walk his Chromebook to his locker and then treat the low.
Tears, while not yet visible, could be heard in my voice. 'You aren't
understanding me. He should not have extra steps added into his routine
when he feels low. He needs to treat the low...not walk to a
locker...unlock a locker...and place his Chromebook in the locker.'
So,
then the Chromebook Confiscator proposed, Joe not even have a
Chromebook. He proposed a desktop be provided for Joe in each classroom
he attends: Math, Social Studies, Spanish, English, Science...I
explained firmly, this was not an option. Not only was the proposal
just plain wrong, but hey...let's make Joe feel even MORE different...
he has a pump, a CGM, sees the nurse multiple times daily...oh and let's add ...
there's the kid who has to use the desktop computer in FIVE different
classrooms. Awesome. Ugh. The conversation left me feeling alone,
misunderstood, and questioning myself. Am I asking too much? Am I
over-complicating things? It also left me feeling a bit sorry for Joe
and for myself. Why can't things just be easy? This life, of managing
t1d, is difficult enough.
In the end, Joe's
School Nurse and the Principal met. A sticker was placed on Joe's
Chromebook that states something like "If found, return to the Nurse."
The Chromebook Confiscator disrupting our day-in-the-life.
'
3 comments:
Get something in the 504 about that! No more confiscating !
I am so mad at the chromebook confiscator!! How totally frustrating for you. So sorry you & Joe are having to deal with this. There are people who just don't get our d-life and it can be such an isolating feeling:(
As an adult who's had T1 for 25 years, it frustrates me so much to hear about kids who are being given penalties for things related to their diabetes. There will be enough time for that as an adult. Now is when adults should be helping to carry the burden. That being said, I just wanted to throw out there an idea. I'm not sure if it would work for Joe or not. As an adult, if I walked away from my tablet or CGM or phone or anything else, it would probably be stolen rather than confiscated. In the past I've had to replace expensive items that I "lost" while treating lows. I ended up finding a way to teather my phone to my belt loop. I wonder if there's a way to attach a teather or leash to the chromebook that could then be clipped on to Joe's pants or backpack or something. Most laptops have a way to secure a security cable, and maybe a lanyard could be attached there? It might not be the right solution but I just thought I'd throw it out there. Trying to help him come up with a way to circumvent diabetes causing him to lose it.
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