Safe at School

Safe at School COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Resources

The COVID-19 pandemic presents unique worries for parents of children living with diabetes.

As schools begin to re-open, we anticipate concerns, questions and challenges may arise that parents, schools, the medical community and the legal community will have to navigate together. The return to school in the midst or just following a global pandemic is largely uncharted territory, in particular for students with diabetes. Nevertheless, students with diabetes have legal rights and these rights do not go away during a global pandemic.

As the science and guidance evolves, we will be working to produce helpful resources and tools for parents and schools to help them navigate this unique time. Our resources will try to address the most common issues that we see. On this webpage, you will find recommendations for returning to school during the pandemic and links to helpful sources of authority. Please check this webpage periodically as we are regularly adding resources and information.

Statement of the American Diabetes Association on COVID-19 Prevention Strategies in the School Setting (PDF)

Safe at School Resources during COVID-19

American Diabetes Association Official Statement Regarding Florida Mask Rule dated September 3, 2021.

Recommendations

Provider Letter Templates

Other helpful information and resources

Webinars & Virtual Meetings

The American Diabetes Association’s Safe at School® Campaign’s 2021 “Fall Back-to-School” three-part series covers legal protections for students with diabetes, COVID-19 precaution guidance for the school setting, and shared experiences from parents on schooling their children during the global pandemic. Thanks to Lilly Diabetes for its support of this event.

  • Find resources and a Q&A from "Back to School with Diabetes in the Time of COVID-19,” a chat hosted by Children with Diabetes on August 23, 2020. Part of the Screenside Chats with CWD series, this chat featured ADA's Safe at School Director and parent of a child with diabetes Crystal Woodward and Dr. Anastasia Albanese-O’Neill, nurse diabetes educator at the University of Florida, co-chair of ADA’s Safe at School Working Group and parent of a child with diabetes. 
  • View the recording and resources from “Returning to School with Diabetes: Virtual Town Hall Meeting,” presented by the ADA, JDRF and Sansum Diabetes Research Institute on August 5, 2021.
  • Watch the Back to School with T1D Virtual Town Hall, hosted by the Diabetes Research Institute on August 13, 2020. This Town Hall featured expert panelists including ADA’s Safe at School Director Crystal Woodward, MPS, and Safe at School Working Group members Cynthia Muñoz, PhD, MPH, and Leah Wyckoff, MS, BSN, RN, NCSN.
  • View the recording and resources from “Returning to School with Diabetes: Virtual Town Hall Meeting,” presented by the ADA, JDRF and Sansum Diabetes Research Institute on July 21, 2020.

Resources from the American Diabetes Association® (ADA):

  • The ADA’s Safe at School campaign offers a wealth of resources, tools and information to help parents and caregivers advocate for the rights of children with diabetes in school, child care, camp and recreational program settings.
  • The ADA’s Know Your Rights: COVID-19 page provides information on the rights of people with diabetes during a global pandemic, as well as resources to assist people with diabetes during COVID-19.
  • The ADA’s COVID-19 Hub helps people with diabetes and their families find the latest information, tips and resources about COVID-19, including answers to the most common questions about COVID-19 and diabetes, tips to stay safe and resources for health care professionals.

Resources from the Federal Government:

Resources from other organizations:

Related studies and articles:

This page was last updated on January 20, 2023.