Abstract:

Background:
Education of students with special educational needs is one of the priorities of educational policy in the Czech Republic. It is based on the idea that inclusion means refusal of discriminating against and excluding an individual from normal education based on his/her health or social handicap. Our contribution is focused on the problem of inclusion of children with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (Type 1 DM) within compulsory school attendance. Children wit Type 1 DM form a specific group suffering from chronic disease at first sight invisible to others. However, a child with Type 1 DM is limited in the normal process of education by a strict treatment regimen.

Goals:
The goal of this study is to present to the teacher education public the problem of children suffering from Type 1 DM, and discuss the problem of inclusion in the Czech school system.

Methods:
This article is conceived as a theoretical one, based mainly on Czech and foreign literature, research, and practical experience.

Results:
The first part of this article is focused on the description and specifics of this disease in school age children. The next part deals with the psychosocial aspect of this disease, which significantly affects not only the child’s success in the process of education, but also his/her socialization and enculturation. The final part contains information for teachers how to work with such children, how to make learning easier for them, but also how to include them in the life of the class and school.

Conclusion:
The work being submitted aims to inform teachers and other educators how to include children with Type 1 DM in the life of the class/school more easily, including ensuring their safety and health protection.

Keywords:

Child, Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus, elementary school, compulsory school attendance, inclusion, health/psychosocial aspects, supporting measures.