School excludes students with diabetes from excursion - complain successfully!

School excludes students with diabetes from excursion - complain successfully!

Burglesum, Deutschland - The situation for children with type 1 diabetes in German schools remains tense. A current case from Bremen causes a lot of excitement and once more shows the challenges affected by families. 14-year-old Timon Walczak, Schüer at the Lesum secondary school, had already lived with this chronic illness for five years when he was recently excluded from a school trip.

timon, who independently masters his everyday life with diabetes, was not allowed to ride through a school trip to the Heidepark Soltau. His mother, Joanna Walczak, spoke of discrimination and was forced to take legal action. "The school did not want to take responsibility for Timon," she reported. Ultimately, she could achieve a lawsuit in front of the Bremen administrative court and a petition that her son was allowed to take part in the excursion. Nevertheless, the situation remained tense and communication between school and family was - to put it mildly - suboptimal.

discrimination and lack of knowledge

The incident in Bremen is not isolated. As the German Diabetes Society (DDG) shows, up to 17,400 children under the age of 14 with type 1 diabetes often experience exclusion in schools and kindergartens. A survey by AG Inclusion shows that almost half of the parents concerned indicate that their children could not take part in everyday school life on an equal footing. In daycare facilities, every third child is excluded from trips lasting several days, which significantly affects social ties and the sense of community.

Timon's case has also shown that knowledge about diabetes within schools is often missing. "Intensive education and training for teachers are needed to better help chronically ill children," said Britta Grote from the advice center for children and adolescents with chronic illnesses. Joanna Walczak wants to raise this awareness with her commitment.

legal framework and support

According to the applicable guidelines, the legal entitlement to support services is undisputed. But critics complain that the financing and implementation of these measures in Germany are insufficient. A nationwide law to promote the inclusion of children with diabetes is required, because studies show that inadequate medical support can lead to cognitive deficits.

In other countries, such as Sweden and the USA, there are already successful programs that could serve as role models. According to the DDH-M, it is being used to improve the handling of chronically ill children in Germany, but there is still a lot to do until a nationwide solution. Timon's case and the associated challenges are exemplary for the necessary discussion about the participation of children with chronic illnesses in school activities.

Families like Timon's that are not alone; Many parents fight for their children's rights and often encounter resistance. As Joanna Walczak emphasizes, she not only wants to support her son with her commitment, but also draw attention to the general problem that has to go through the affected children and her parents.

Society expects schools to proceed with a good example and promote the integration of all children - regardless of health requirements. After all, it is not only a question of law, but also one of the human decency to enable the same opportunities to each child.

For further dialogue and the Enlightenment, further training for teachers and expanded support structures could make a decisive difference, so that children like Timon no longer have to fight regular experiences.