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If you worked with someone with a severe needle phobia what would you do?

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Special needs is no excuse for bad behaviour or stealing. While the other girl needs help, she also needs help in understanding why taking (or stealing) someone elses medical kit is wrong. K needs to inject and test so perhaps something can be arranged so the other girl doesn't see what is happening. I am assuming the class does things like biology and/or citizenship?, so perhaps it can be raised in biology lessons and the whole class talk about diabetes and why people have to take tablets or do injections?
 
Caroline said:
Special needs is no excuse for bad behaviour or stealing. While the other girl needs help, she also needs help in understanding why taking (or stealing) someone elses medical kit is wrong. K needs to inject and test so perhaps something can be arranged so the other girl doesn't see what is happening. I am assuming the class does things like biology and/or citizenship?, so perhaps it can be raised in biology lessons and the whole class talk about diabetes and why people have to take tablets or do injections?
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When my grown up daughter was at Secondary School, as far as I can remember, she came home and told me her class( possible Science?) talked about Diabetes. She told the class teacher I had Diabetes and the teacher said I must be fat😱😱 without even asking about my condition and how I treated it. I wanted to go to the school and give the teacher a piece of my mind, but my daughter didn't want me to :( I was flipping mad, how dare she say that, this was in 93 - 95. Even when pregnant, I was realively slim for a pregnant lady. Some teachers eh, they spout out rubbish and expect the children to think the same. Sheena
 
Catwoman76 said:
When my grown up daughter was at Secondary School, as far as I can remember, she came home and told me her class( possible Science?) talked about Diabetes. She told the class teacher I had Diabetes and the teacher said I must be fat😱😱 without even asking about my condition and how I treated it. I wanted to go to the school and give the teacher a piece of my mind, but my daughter didn't want me to :( I was flipping mad, how dare she say that, this was in 93 - 95. Even when pregnant, I was realively slim for a pregnant lady. Some teachers eh, they spout out rubbish and expect the children to think the same. Sheena
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When teachers come out with rubbish I take great pleasure in pointing them in the right direction. I take a list of reference books, websites and leaflets and suggest before they teach something they do their research.
 
Oh dear. Poor K.

The only thing I can think of is lack of knowledge creates fear.

I don't know if the school could could ask K to explain what all the stuff she uses does and why it is needed - and to answer questions.

My friend's son C who is in secondary school told his class what all his kit does and why he needs it. He let the others see his meter and pen up close and some watched him use them. He answered lots of questions and said what would happen if his kit went missing and what to do about helping him with frequent hypos (he has zero awareness but wants tight control). Apparently everyone in his class is not fazed about his diabetes now.
 
that brighton tez is how it should be eh ... the education of the class that is
 
I hope that things get sorted out soon for you. I must admit that I'm not very good with this advice because until last September I never did my injections in an open space. I've now moved into an open plan office with a great set of colleagues/'friends and I chose a corner desk so that I can be discrete doing my injections and blood tests. Once or twice somebody has walked up whilst I'm doing it but they didn't seem bothered. If I was writing to my younger self (as seems popular at the moment) I would say do your injection whenever you need to do it, wherever you want to do it and if somebody has a problem with this - it is there problem not your problem - if they have a needle phobia then IF they need to come near you they should ask if it is ok. If they don't like it they should move classes.
 
Just thought I'd clarify who I am on t'other forum, since I read that whole thread thinking "but I've read this before...and replied..." :D

I really hope you and K get something sorted asap xx
 
brightontez said:
Oh dear. Poor K.

The only thing I can think of is lack of knowledge creates fear.

I don't know if the school could could ask K to explain what all the stuff she uses does and why it is needed - and to answer questions.

My friend's son C who is in secondary school told his class what all his kit does and why he needs it. He let the others see his meter and pen up close and some watched him use them. He answered lots of questions and said what would happen if his kit went missing and what to do about helping him with frequent hypos (he has zero awareness but wants tight control). Apparently everyone in his class is not fazed about his diabetes now.
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I have to say I have been thinking the same way as Brightontez. Could it in any way be arranged for the girls (under supervision of course) to talk about diabetes and share all the contents of K's kit? Has this girl ever actually seen K's needles? Is she imagining 6in long wide bore needles, rather than the tiny little things they actually are? Has she ever actually had it explained to her that K's life is at risk if she doesn't inject regularly? Maybe some intense education about diabetes would be the best way forward.

My son had a massive needle phobia pre-diagnosis, but of course within the space of a few hours was subjected to countless blood tests, cannulas and insulin injections, so had no choice but to 'get over it'. What if this other girl had found herself suddenly in the same position? She would have to learn to deal with it too. Maybe some proper understanding would actually make this other girl realise just what K has to put up with, that it's not her choice but a hard fact of life.

In a way it's not fair that our children have to go so public with all this, but could a DSN ever be invited in to talk to the whole class and educate them as a whole about diabetes? (Dangerous to expect a teacher to do it - the misconceptions are still so apparent) Ignorance is dangerous in situations like this, but then kids can be cruel and it could well backfire and get your child victimised even more for being 'different'.

It's not easy, this parenting lark, is it? Good luck in your fight. Hope you get a positive outcome and quickly too.

Tina
 
Thanks for all your replies especially those who PM'd me - I didn't get time yesterday to come on here - briefley went on 'other forum' -thank you Cate

I have been advised(by a Childrens SEN charity) that my next step is to contact the Head as I have not got anywhere with the SENCO. Unfortunately the school does not publish it's Special Needs or Medical Policies online, so I have to ask for a copy of them - because in theory they must be breaking their own rules here. The letter to the Head will 'formalise' the position - you would think the involvement of EWO would have done that - but aparently not.

Re Educating the class - this has been done over a year ago - and is alleged to be the cause of the other girls phobia :(

Re Homeschooling - as Cate knows I am thinking of this quite seriously - but it is a huge decision as there is no going back from it in K's case as she will not get her place back in this school (it is a selective grammar high on The Times legue tables - very hard to get a place). And Ks councellor says not going to school is avoiding her problem and making it worse.

Re Cataracts - referal came through this morning to Southampton - we have appointment 8 May with Orthoptist there. Then it's a case of finding how high K is on the waiting list there. Her Opthamologist here wrote in the referal letter '...she is unable to attend school now, mainly because of her visual change...' I am hoping to use this as evidence that she should stay off til after the op. - which I would like to think might have taken place by very early June.

The operation would hopefully mean she didn't need the TA and so can change classes - there are a couple of diabetic girls in another class in her year (that I know of but dont know their names) which would help with the 'being different' problem to a certain extent and remove her from 'danger' from the other girl.

Thank you again everyone for your help and support - I will reply to the PM's when I get a chance - I am trying to persuade K to come out shopping with me today as we haven't been anywhere since last Wednesday.

Hope everyone has a good Easter🙂
 
I do hope that everything gets sorted satisfactorily, and sooner rather than later 🙂
 
Sounds like they might be trying to play down all talk of problems in case it spoils their league position and ratings.

I hope you can force their hand and shame them into doing something. The logical answer would be a 2nd TA for K in the class with 2 other diabetics, or see if they can move one or both of them into her class with the TA.

Could one presume that possibly maybe the 'problem' girl's parents contribute in some way to school funds?

Rob
 
Robster65 said:
Sounds like they might be trying to play down all talk of problems in case it spoils their league position and ratings.

I hope you can force their hand and shame them into doing something. The logical answer would be a 2nd TA for K in the class with 2 other diabetics, or see if they can move one or both of them into her class with the TA.

Could one presume that possibly maybe the 'problem' girl's parents contribute in some way to school funds?

Rob
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😱 Rob what a cynic!

Actually we are all supposed to make a 'voluntary' contribution but 'wooops!' we forgot this year - d'you think if we 'remember' now it will make a difference? (Reduced to allow for her only getting 25% of the education the others are getting?)😉
 
MeanMom said:
Rob what a cynic!

Actually we are all supposed to make a 'voluntary' contribution but 'wooops!' we forgot this year - d'you think if we 'remember' now it will make a difference? (Reduced to allow for her only getting 25% of the education the others are getting?)😉
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I'd hate to be a cynic for a second time, but I think you may be right. 😉:D

Sadly, league tables make for competition. Competition makes for a certain amount of massaging of statistics.

I think I know the school you refer to and it has an excellent reputation but I'm sure there's a few salaries that rely on it retaining that reputation by whatever means necessary.🙄

Rob
 
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