Timon fights for his place: court strengthens rights of diabetes students

Timon fights for his place: court strengthens rights of diabetes students

Vegesack, Deutschland - The school community in Bremen-Burglesum has shaken up a tragic incident: Timon Walczak, a 13-year-old student, was excluded from an important school trip to the Heidepark. Timon has been suffering from Type 1 diabetes for five years, a disease that has already been diagnosed in third grade. First he received support from an assistant who helped him inject insulin; In the meantime, he has mastered this task independently and responsibly since he is in fifth grade. But despite his efforts, his participation was rejected on the trip, which his mother, Joanna Walczak, shook. This raises questions that go far beyond the individual case.

The school justified the exclusion with concerns about Timon's behavior in critical situations and the need to create a secure basis for school activities. Without the technical assessment of the health department, the school management saw itself unable to take responsibility. Such decisions lead to uncertainty not only for affected students, but also for their families. "Two years ago, Timon took part in a school trip lasting several days," emphasizes Walczak, which makes the current situation appear all the more tragic.

Inclusion in everyday school life

But this is not an isolated case. The number of children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes in Germany is continuously increasing: around 3,000 affected people under the age of 18 develop new annually. This poses major challenges. Experts therefore call for a nationwide regulation to support chronically ill children in daycare centers and schools. Professor Dr. med. Baptist Gallwitz and Dr. med. Jens Kröger argue that training courses for supervisors and teachers could help reduce fears and overcome uncertainties. The need for such training is high: In 80% of cases in daycare centers and 70% in schools, financing is made through donations or voluntary support, which can affect the quality of the training.

Timon and his parents have filed a complaint with the Senator for Children and Education against the decision of the school and sought a lawsuit against the municipality of Bremen at the administrative court. The court then opened the school's decision. It found that Timon had the right to participate in extracurricular events, which brought the school management to inspect. Now the school has received recommendations for action from the Senatorial Authority and informs the family that Timon's participation in other activities will be in principle possible in the future.

a challenge for society as a whole

As the situation in Bremen shows, there are considerable participation problems for children and adolescents with diabetes type 1. According to a survey, over 7000 children with this illness alone. Often, as in Timon's case, those affected are only able to participate in social life to a limited extent. This contradicts the right to unreserved participation, which is guaranteed by the UN Convention on the Rights of Disabilities and the Federal Participation Act (BTHG).

parents report difficulties and inadequacies in granting assistance. Often they comp to the participation problems through the presence or on -call duty, which in the long run represents an immense burden. The complex application for support and lack of transparency also complicit the situation. Many parents demand that the urgent need for training for teachers to deal with children who have type 1 diabetes.

It remains to be hoped that the events around Timon Walczak will ensure a rethink in the school landscape and an important step towards an inclusive and just education for all children with chronic diseases.