This document discusses legal protections and advocacy for people with diabetes who experience discrimination. It provides examples of unfair treatment in work, school, by police, and during air travel. Readers are encouraged to contact the American Diabetes Association's legal advocacy department if they experience discrimination. The department provides information, connects callers with local attorneys and health professionals, and takes legal action in some cases to resolve issues. The association aims to build a network of volunteer attorneys and medical professionals to assist individuals facing discrimination due to their diabetes.

1. Know Your Rights
Fair Treatment for People With Diabetes

2. Know Your Rights
Fair Treatment for People
Who Have Diabetes

3. Everyone Who Has Diabetes
Deserves Fair Treatment…
At Work
At School
By Police
In Correctional Facilities
In Other parts of Daily Life

4. But That Does Not Always Happen

5. In certain cases, they
don’t realize what is
happening…
They just know that
something doesn’t
seem right!

6. What is Unfair Treatment
(Discrimination)
Due to Diabetes?
It might look like this…
At Work:
A pharmacist is not allowed to
take a lunch break to eat and
test his blood glucose.

7. Or like this…
At School:
A child is unwelcome in 98
of a school district’s 103
elementary schools because
of strict school district policy
about how students with
diabetes receive diabetes
care at school.

8. Or like this…
At the Airport:
A traveler is forced
to take off her
diabetes pump at
the airline security checkpoint because of a lack of
understanding by security personnel.

9. Or like this…
In Police Custody:
A man is arrested and
denied any medical care.

10. What is Unfair Treatment
Due to Diabetes?
Treatment that prevents a person who has diabetes from
a normal experience just because of having diabetes.
This is Called Discrimination
And It Might Not be Legal!

11. Legal Protections for People
Who Have Diabetes
Federal Laws
• Prohibit discriminatory
treatment of people with
diabetes at work, at school and
in other parts of daily life.
• Protect “qualified
individuals with disabilities.”
Diabetes is considered a
Disability under federal law.

12. The Association’s Legal Advocacy Department provides
specialized help for these situations, as needed.
The American Diabetes Association receives an average of
250 calls per month related to diabetes discrimination.

13. Legal Advocacy has Helped Employees
Stephen Orr
•Pharmacist in the Midwest
•Denied lunch break to eat and test his
blood glucose.
•Then, terminated for taking that break.
•Legal Advocacy helped cause a change
in federal law that now gives people
with diabetes greater protect under the
Americans with Disabilities Act at work,
school and in other public places.

14. Legal Advocacy has Helped Students
Jared Milligan
•As a kindergarten student in Florida, he was
unable to attend his local school unless a
family member came to school every day to
administer his insulin.
•His Mom, Tracy, contacted the American
Diabetes Association and led the effort to
pass Florida state legislation prohibiting so-
called “diabetes schools.”
•A new policy now requires (upon parental
request) Duval County public schools to
provide diabetes care to students, in their
current schools.

15. Legal Advocacy has Worked with
Police/Correctional Facilities
Philadelphia
•Steve Rosen was arrested and denied medical care
for almost one full day; He had to be transferred
to the emergency room.
•The American Diabetes Association participated in
the case to prevent similar incidents in the future.
•The police then established procedures to make
sure that people with diabetes have access to
medication, food and medical personnel, and that
police officers receive training about diabetes
symptoms and care.

16. Legal Advocacy has Focused on Air Travel
• Stepping up for the rights of
travelers who have diabetes.
• Working with Transportation
Security Administration (TSA)
so that passengers with diabetes
have access to their diabetes
supplies and equipment.
• Assisting TSA in development of its training materials.
• Providing regular feedback to TSA about issues involving travelers
who have diabetes.

17. These are not the only examples
of diabetes discrimination.
When diabetes discrimination happens,
what should a person do?
Call: 1-800-DIABETES (342-2383)

18. When Someone Calls 1-800-DIABETES
A trained representative will
answer, who will provide
information and, sometimes, a
form to complete and return by
fax, email or postal mail.
When needed, a Legal Advocate (American Diabetes Association lawyer
experienced with diabetes discrimination) will contact the caller to offer
assistance.

19. When More Than Just a Phone
Conversation or Information is Needed
Sometimes, the caller will be
connected with an attorney or
health care professional in that
local area for additional help.

20. ..and, in certain cases, when it is necessary,
the American Diabetes Association will
take legal action or work on
legislation to resolve specific
discrimination problems.

21. Attorneys Needed: to Join Our
Advocacy Attorney Network
• Attorneys around the country who may
write letters, make phone calls,
represent children/adults, change
unfair laws and more.
• May participate pro bono or as part of
a practice.
• Are never obligated to participate on
any particular case; participation is per
the attorney’s interest and availability.
Join at diabetes.org/AttorneysWanted

22. Needed: More Members of the Health
Care Professional Legal Advocacy Network
•Doctors, Nurses, Diabetes Educators,
other medical professionals.
•May make phone calls, write letters,
educate, provide expert testimony, other.
•Are never obligated to participate on any
particular case; participation is per the
member’s interest and availability.
•Expertise in diabetes discrimination is
appreciated, but not necessary.
Join at diabetes.org/PatientRights

23. So, if Discrimination Happens...
The American Diabetes Association is Here!

24. Call 1-800-DIABETES !
“Knowing that there are people
willing to help makes a big, fulfilling
difference in my life…..It is good to
know I am not alone and that I have
you in my corner.”
- Employee who has diabetes
Information also available at diabetes.org/gethelp.

25. The American Diabetes Association’s Legal
Advocacy activities are supported by a grant
from Novo Nordisk.

26. Thank You!