This unfortunate incident occurred when a kindergarten child with diabetes was supposed to go on an organized summer trip with other children from the preschool. It happened a year ago, but that is no reason to stay silent. We are sharing this terrible yet true story to empower every parent to fight for their child and to encourage other kindergartens not to discriminate against children with diabetes.
Key facts:
- The kindergarten tried to find a staff member to accompany the child – they failed.
- Teachers were offered extra pay to join the trip – it didn’t help.
- The mother was willing to accompany her child – they didn’t allow it.
- The mother was threatened that unless she gave up, no one would be allowed to go.
In its lengthy response, the kindergarten stated that the trip was not mandatory, that the organizer was technically a separate legal entity, that staff could not be “forced” to participate, and that “no parent has ever accompanied a child before.” They added that some teachers refused to go if a parent came along – which points to inappropriate personal attitudes affecting decisions about children's rights.
Manipulation: "No parent has ever accompanied a child before"
Dear parents, please be aware that appealing to tradition and past practice is one of the most common forms of manipulation. It is important to understand that such reasoning cannot justify refusing to find an individual solution in a specific situation. Especially considering that the mother explicitly offered to support her own child. Even worse, the teachers reportedly refused not because of the child, but because of the parent’s presence – which only deepens our concern.
Although the kindergarten emphasizes its commitment to inclusion and employing assistants for children with disabilities, in this case, no solution was found. A child with diabetes was denied equal access to an experience that was made available to other children. The fact that teachers were paid for their participation (and were not volunteering) further strengthens the argument that a solution should have been found for a child with special needs.
As editors, we are not publishing the kindergarten’s name because this happened a year ago and, at the very least, they made an effort to respond – even though their response, in our opinion, was filled with manipulative and evasive justifications. This is not about blaming individuals, but about a systemic failure that too often affects children with diabetes and other chronic illnesses.
The full correspondence has, with the family’s consent, been forwarded to the Ombudsperson for Children with the aim of officially investigating whether this case involved a violation of the child’s rights and unequal treatment. If and when we receive a response, we will publish it.
Conclusion
Our message is clear: children with diabetes are not less valuable, and they must not be less included – not in kindergartens, not on field trips, and not on summer holidays. A parent's offer to make a trip safer for their diabetic child, for other children, and for the staff – should be welcomed and praised, not rejected.
If society still doesn’t understand that – we’ll keep reminding it. By name, if necessary.
