Disabled category for diabetic students

New Delhi: Experts have called the CBSE’s recent announcement of placing children with Type-1 diabetes under the category of persons with disabilities as “inappropriate” and “not right”.

Doctors have said that diabetes is only a metabolic disorder and children suffering from it should not be segregated as “disabled”.

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) had recently announced that students suffering from Type-1 diabetes will be clubbed with persons with disabilities (PWD) this year. It had asked students to fill up forms for Classes 10 and 12 exams under this category.

Last year, however, the board permitted insulin-dependent students taking Class 10 and 12 board exams to carry sugar tablets, chocolate, candies, and water bottles inside the centre.

Speaking on the issue, Dr Sanjay Kalra, the vice president of South Asian Federation of Endocrine Societies and the consultant endocrinologist at Bharti Hospital, Karnal, said that the word ‘disability’ is inappropriate.

“Children with Type-1diabetes (TDM) face multiple challenges and demands. Their health care providers and family members work hard to create a sense of self-worth in them. We strongly suggest using the descriptor ‘children of determination’ not only for children with DM but for all children with so-called ‘disability,’” he said.

Dr Vikramjeet Singh, the senior consultant of internal medicine at Aakash Healthcare Super Specia-lity Hospital, feels that the move wasn’t “needed”.

“We need to treat these children normally as they only have a metabolic disorder. If treated, they are normal kids. We need to treat them and not segregate them as disabled,” he said.

Dr Ajay Kumar Ajmani, the senior consultant (endocrinology) at BLK Super Speciality Hospital, said: “Type-1 DM children have special needs, which should be given proper care. But calling them disabled is not right.”

However, education activist Sumit Vohra calls it a welcome step.

“This is a welcome move by CBSE overall, specially for children who would be sitting in CBSE board exams,” he said.