Teachers and School Staff Toolkit
Diabetes in a Backpack:
Online School Staff Training Now Available!!
The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services has worked with the Montana Office of Public Instruction to develop a diabetes training for school staff. The self-paced course is worth 2 OPI renewal units. Trainees will learn how school staff in different positions can help care for students with diabetes throughout the school day. Check out the free training on the Montana Teacher Learning HUB today!
Tips and Guidelines
- 10 Tips for Teachers: Quick tips for supporting the student with diabetes in the classroom.
- Solutions for Common Concerns - Diabetes at School
- Guidelines for Teachers: provides a list of critical responsibilities for the teacher of students with diabetes.
Understanding Diabetes in Children
- Children with Diabetes ADA brochure: Information for School and Child Care Providers
- Developmental Stages and Diabetes: Students need to be encouraged and supported to gradually assume diabetes self-care as they mature and demonstrate confidence. Newly diagnosed students may temporarily be unable to perform tasks per their developmental age until they adjust to their diagnosis and new life. This general list can help guide discussions as a child matures and advances in responsibility.
Trainings, Tools, and Resources
- NDEP Helping the Student with Diabetes Succeed: Students with diabetes are more likely to succeed in school when the student’s school health team and the student’s personal diabetes health care team work together. NDEP offers information about diabetes in children and teens as well as tools and resources for all types of school staff.
Legal Protections, Rights, and Responsibilities
- Federal laws, such as The Americans with Disabilities Act, The Individuals with Disabilities with Education Act (IDEA), The Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, provide important legal protections for the rights of students with diabetes.
- Section 504 Plan Sample Provisions: This file contains sample provisions to be included in a student’s 504 plan. It can be difficult to think of all of the things a student may need to be safe at school. This document will help a parent or family member decide what to include in their child’s plan.