The Ontario Government announced today a new policy to better support children with medical conditions (anaphylaxis, asthma, diabetes and/or epilepsy) at school called PPM 161.
PPM 161 – Supporting Children and Students with Prevalent Medical Conditions – builds on the success of Sabrina’s Law and strengthens procedures already in place for approximately 138,000 Ontario students with food allergies.
School boards are required to implement this PPM by September 1, 2018, and all students with these medical conditions are to have a Plan of Care in place. The PPM will serve to enhance measures for students at risk of anaphylaxis as well as other students affected by asthma, diabetes, and epilepsy.
Food Allergy Canada was an active participant in stakeholder consultations going back more than two years and worked closely with the patient organizations for the other medical conditions. Throughout the process Sabrina’s Law proved to be an important resource in the development of the policy. Notably, Sabrina’s Law retains its authoritative and symbolic position as legislation. While building upon the requirements set out in Sabrina’s Law and also Ryan’s Law, the PPM represents a positive step forward to support students with diabetes and/or epilepsy.
More information on the PPM can be found on the Ontario Government website.
Food Allergy Canada thanks Education Minister Mitzie Hunter and staff, as well as Asthma Canada, Diabetes Canada, Epilepsy Ontario, and the Lung Association – Ontario, and health and educator partners on the creation of this policy. We look forward to continuing our relationship to improve upon prevalent medical conditions in schools.
Thank you also to the community for its continued advocacy for students with food allergies.
Tags: ministry of education, Ontario, prevalent medical conditions