DREDF Demands Action After State Fails To Protect Children From Abuse In Special Education

January 15, 2016
DREDF, the ACLU, and Disability Rights California delivered a demand letter to officials at the California Department of Education that calls for an independent monitor to investigate abusive practices at segregated special education sites all across the state. The demand came days after the release of a disturbing video showing a 9-year-old student with disabilities being restrained and hit by staffers at Tobinworld, a publicly-funded special education school in Antioch, California. [...]

Important Information about Diabetes Care at School in California

September 16, 2013
On August 12, 2013, the California Supreme Court issued a decision about who is allowed under state law to administer insulin to students.In that decision, the Court clarified that California law allows people who aren't licensed nurses or doctors to give insulin and other prescription medications to students with diabetes and other health conditions in California's public schools.The American Diabetes Association and Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF) are very pleased with this decision and believe it will help California children with diabetes get the insulin they need to be healthy and safe at school. (State law already clearly permitted non-medical school staff members to administer glucagon and perform blood glucose monitoring, among other types of diabetes care.)

American Nurses Association v. Torlakson (update 7/12/13)

August 12, 2013
"Today's decision is a critical victory for the estimated 14,000 California schoolchildren with diabetes and their right to diabetes health related services in school and during school–sponsored activities," said Larisa Cummings, DREDF Staff Attorney. "We're equally excited to see the practical realities of living with a disability and/or chronic illness safeguarded by established law."

DREDF Concerned About CMS Proposed Rule

February 21, 2013
DREDF expresses significant concerns and provides recommendations on certain aspects of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services proposed rule regarding Medicaid.

Posted in Uncategorized

Nurse Organizations Seek to Overturn Accord Providing California Students with Diabetes with Access to Insulin

November 13, 2008
Sacramento, California — The California Department of Education (CDE) and the American Diabetes Association (ADA) will be in Sacramento Superior Court on Friday, November 14, 2008, seeking to preserve their 2007 agreement that permits trained non-medical school personnel to administer insulin to children with diabetes when nurses are not available. The American Nurses Association (ANA) and several other organizations representing nurses have filed a petition seeking to prevent such care by invalidating a key provision of the CDE and ADA accord.

Children With Diabetes Win Assurance of Legally-Required Services at School

August 8, 2007
Oakland, California — State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell joined representatives of the American Diabetes Association (ADA) today to announce a landmark agreement that ensures California students who are classified as disabled because of diabetes will be safe at school and enjoy the same legally-required educational opportunities as their peers. The agreement clarifies the rights of eligible students with diabetes in every school district throughout the state.