A teenager with type 1 diabetes has been left ‘devastated’ after she was barred from a school trip because of her condition, says her mother.
Aaliyah Thomso, from Scotland, was due to travel to Highlands Holiday Park with students from Elgin High School, but her mum says the school stopped her going at the last minute.
Speaking to the Press and Journal newspaper, Jaye Thomson said: “She was really looking forward to it, but then spent all of Friday evening [upset] when she found out she couldn’t go, she was really devastated.
“Diabetes is classed as a disability and it’s the only reason she’s not been allowed to go.”
According to Ms Thomso, the plans for the trip were made in January and she even met with teachers about her daughter’s condition.
Ms Thomson says she had informed the school about Aaliyah’s diabetes in advance of the trip, but received a recent email asking about medical problems affecting any of the children going on the trip.
She said: “I went to a meeting at the school earlier this month just to go over things and to make sure Aaliyah would be safe. At that point, I got the impression that the teachers didn’t want her to go because it would be a hassle for them.”
A Moray Council spokesman said: “The school did everything possible to get the necessary information from Ms Thomson about Aaliyah’s condition and medication but, despite repeated efforts over a number of weeks, this was not forthcoming.
“In the absence of that information and following consultation with professionals from other sectors, the school decided that it could not take the risk of allowing Aaliyah to join the class trip to what is a relatively remote area. We can understand her disappointment but we’re satisfied that no fault lies with the school.”
But Ms Thomson has insisted she had provided school with the necessary information in relation to her daughter’s type 1 diabetes.
She said: “I had adjusted Aaliyah’s insulin so that she would be fine for all the activities, but she was on a similar trip last year with New Elgin Primary School and had no problems.
“It’s the way the school went about this that hurts the most, they made it so hard for her and I do consider it discrimination.”
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