CHESAPEAKE, Va. (WAVY) — Kaitlyn Jiannine said despite her son Nate’s diagnosis of type 1 diabetes, he’s just like any other 11-year-old and should be treated that way.

But for several months, she said she wasn’t able to get Nate into the YMCA afterschool program. She told NewsNation affiliate WAVY the YMCA told her they initially didn’t have enough staff trained in diabetic care.

The YMCA of South Hampton Roads, in a statement, said it reassigned one of its staff members that had a higher level of certification to the YMCA location he’d be attending.

“The YMCA of South Hampton Roads works hard to understand and accommodate the unique needs of the families and children we serve,” the YMCA statement reads. “As a licensed childcare provider, we are required to maintain staff who are trained and certified to administer medications at all of our childcare locations, and we comply with this requirement. The administration of diabetes medication includes an additional level of training and certification (“MAT-D”) which our license does not require. However, many members of our staff obtain this higher level with our support and encouragement. When we were made aware of Nathaniel’s medical needs, we worked quickly to reassign a staff member with the MAT-D certification to the location he would be attending. Before the start of the school year, we communicated our efforts to his mother and Nathaniel is currently attending our program.”

His mother said she wants her son to feel included.

“I don’t want him to feel singled out,” Jiannine said in a Monday morning interview. “Just because he has diabetes doesn’t mean he shouldn’t be included. That’s just not fair.”

Nate wears a glucose monitor on his arm, connected to his and his mother’s phones that can alert them about his blood sugar levels.

“If his phone beeps because he’s low, give him some gummies,” Jiannine said. “If his phone beeps because he’s high, if he runs and plays, it brings it down. If it doesn’t go down, then that’s when he’ll need insulin.”

Nate takes two kinds of insulin each day at home. He has a nasal spray for an extreme situation, which his mother said he’s never had to use.

The American Diabetes Association said afterschool programs cannot discriminate against children with diabetes.

“Afterschool programs should have someone trained,” Association staff attorney Jennifer Sherman said. “The Americans with Disabilities Act prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities, including people with diabetes, and places of public accommodation include these afterschool programs that you’re talking about.”

Jiannine realizes that some afterschool programs will have young people watching the students.

“As long as they were able to pass the test and get their certification (for diabetes care), I would feel confident that they would be trained enough,” she said.

The American Diabetes Association said it approves of anyone 18 or older getting the diabetes training.

Resources for children with diabetes

Parents/guardians can find information and download a fillable Diabetes Medical Management Plan: https://diabetes.org/advocacy/safe-at-school-state-laws/diabetes-medical-management-plan

Specific form for childcare settings: https://diabetes.org/sites/default/files/2023-11/childcare-dmmp-9-11-23.pdf)

Understanding the legal protections available to their child. There are also training resources that can be used for childcare settings/rec programs on this page. 
Childcare centers, camps, and other recreational programs covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act and/or Section 504 cannot refuse to admit a child because they have diabetes and may be required to provide services, called accommodations, to a child with diabetes to enable the child to participate in the program. https://diabetes.org/advocacy/know-your-rights/daycare-camps-and-recreational-programs

The Department of Justice has entered into several settlement agreements addressing the obligations of childcare providers to perform diabetes care tasks for children. You can read more here: https://diabetes.org/advocacy/know-your-rights/diabetes-litigation-daycare-camps

The ADA’s Safe at School campaign works to make sure the diabetes management needs of children are met so they are healthy and safe and able to enjoy the same opportunities as their peers.

For questions about their child’s rights or need help with ongoing problems related to diabetes care at school, call the ADA at 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383) or send an email to AskADA@diabetes.org.