Extra Charge For High Needs Child???

[CheekyChick]

I have a little girl (almost 2 years) who is diabetic. She requires a LOT more care than the other children in her age group. We have to test her blood throughout the day (even while she's sleeping), give her insulin at times, monitor her eating, and stay in constant contact with her parents throughout the day.

Is it legal to charge a bit more for her care? I've read at traditional preschools that it is not legal to charge more - but I run a daycare which is different.

Anyway, she will be moving to a new class soon and I would like to give a small wage increase to her teacher as she is taking on TONS more work and responsibility.

What are your thoughts?

[snbauser]

In the past I have been told that it is against the Americans with Disabilities Act to charge more for a child with special needs.

[Former Teacher]

In the past I have been told that it is against the Americans with Disabilities Act to charge more for a child with special needs.

I have heard this as well.

If my memory serves me right, once at my former center we had a family whose daughter was in a wheelchair. It would have required that we had to redo the WHOLE building to accommodate this family plus add ramps etc.

The director just told the family that we were full. Sad yes I know. But she didn't want to go through the hassle (and the expense!) for a family that may or may not stay.

[CheekyChick]

Thank you for your input...

I have been googling whether or not it is legal to charge more at an at home daycare, which is completely different than a traditional preschool. We decide what we charge, so I assumed I could charge more for special needs children. Also, the Department of Human Services even pays more for special needs children, but it doesn't specify what is considered "special needs."

[Blackcat31]

My state actually pays more for children with special needs. So I don't think it is against the ADA...or atleast some cases aren't.

I have received a higher rate reimbursement for children who have diabetes and for children with other issues that require more care then regular kids.

I don't have any idea what the rules are and had no idea I could charge a higher rate until my licensor told me I could and the state subsidy program sent me the paperwork saying how I should go about applying for the higher rate reimbursement.

[Willow]

It wouldn't matter if it was legal or not, charging a sicker child's parents a higher rate wouldn't sit right with me.

It's not their fault she's sick, and the price their child pays in life enduring her illness is infinitely high enough.


I'm sorry but IMHO you need to suck it up. Some kids need almost no care at all, they are smart and play well, are well behaved, eat well, clean up after themselves...then there are those who need loads of extra supervision because they can't play independently, are into and onto everything, are picky or messy eaters and buck clean up every single time. There are also those with long hair that need tending to throughout the day. Those who wear glasses or hearing aids that need special attention. Those with eczema that need creams put on daily. Those with allergies who need medications administered and reactions monitored etc. etc. etc.

If you start nit picky charging for everything that adds a bit more to your plate you better start doing that for all AND be willing to discount the parents of the easy streeters to boot.




DHS in MN has instituted DOC rates for special needs kids in foster care. Is that what you're talking about? Children that become wards of the state are assessed, given a number and that number corresponds with a reimbursement rate beyond the regular daily rate. Sure, if I've got a drug addicted detoxing newborn who doesn't sleep but two hours a day, needs to eat a specially prepared formula every one to two hours, baths several times a day to keep their bottom clear of the feces that literally burn their skin, doctors appointments several times a week and specialists coming into my home almost daily then that child will have a higher DOC number and I'll be reimbursed for the "extra" care I need to provide.

Not that it's necessary, I certainly didn't need or expect to make more money off the backs of sicker kids as opposed to healthy ones.

I don't know how that would relate to daycare though. Unless perhaps that child's rates are paid via county assistance?


K-12 teachers don't make more for kids in their classes that are more "difficult" to teach or handle. I'm not sure why preschool teachers should be able to.




When you talk about "giving" a wage increase to the next teacher just because she was a bit more work for you....frankly, I'd sue if I was the girl's parents and I was ever presented such a notion.

[Blackcat31]

It wouldn't matter if it was legal or not, charging a sicker child's parents a higher rate wouldn't sit right with me.

It's not their fault she's sick, and the price their child pays in life enduring her illness is infinitely high enough.

This has nothing to do with this thread really, but please don't say it like that.

My DH is a Type 1 insulin diabetic. He is NOT sick or ill. He does not have an illness that is going to go away some day like having strep throat or an ear infection.

I know that is really not what you meant and I respect the fact that you feel like a higher rate is unfair and such and I also admire the fact that you feel charging more is not morally or ethically right but saying diabetes is an illness or sickness just sits wrong with me.

My DH (and our whole family) have had to deal with biases and mis-information associated with having diabetes so I am aways quick to jump in to correct the wrong wording or wrong ideas about it...so forgive my haste, but I just get upset when people say illness or sickness...kwim?

I know it is just words...but he isn't sick and he isn't ill. He has a disease and one that he can and does live with to the best of his abilities but it isn't going to go away or get better.

[Former Teacher]

It wouldn't matter if it was legal or not, charging a sicker child's parents a higher rate wouldn't sit right with me.

It's not their fault she's sick, and the price their child pays in life enduring her illness is infinitely high enough.

I'm sorry but IMHO you need to suck it up. Some kids need almost no care at all, they are smart and play well, are well behaved, eat well, clean up after themselves...then there are those who need loads of extra supervision because they can't play independently, are into and onto everything, are picky or messy eaters and buck clean up every single time. There are also those with long hair that need tending to throughout the day. Those who wear glasses or hearing aids that need special attention. Those with eczema that need creams put on daily. Those with allergies who need medications administered and reactions monitored etc. etc. etc.

If you start nit picky charging for everything that adds a bit more to your plate you better start doing that for all AND be willing to discount the parents of the easy streeters to boot.

DHS in MN has instituted DOC rates for special needs kids in foster care. Is that what you're talking about? Children that become wards of the state are assessed, given a number and that number corresponds with a reimbursement rate beyond the regular daily rate. Sure, if I've got a drug addicted detoxing newborn who doesn't sleep but two hours a day, needs to eat a specially prepared formula every one to two hours, baths several times a day to keep their bottom clear of the feces that literally burn their skin, doctors appointments several times a week and specialists coming into my home almost daily then that child will have a higher DOC number and I'll be reimbursed for the "extra" care I need to provide.

Not that it's necessary, I certainly didn't need or expect to make more money off the backs of sicker kids as opposed to healthy ones.

I don't know how that would relate to daycare though. Unless perhaps that child's rates are paid via county assistance?

K-12 teachers don't make more for kids in their classes that are more "difficult" to teach or handle. I'm not sure why preschool teachers should be able to.

When you talk about "giving" a wage increase to the next teacher just because she was a bit more work for you....frankly, I'd sue if I was the girl's parents and I was ever presented such a notion.

Not to hijack this thread by any means, but I am reminded of someone/something. This person will remain anonymous because she no longer posts. However she remains highly respected and well loved here.

If I am remembering and reading her posts right, this is EXACTLY how she does business. She charges the parents for every little thing that requires extra work for her and/or assistant. I don't remember all the little details however it does stick in my mind that she has made the comment, if the parents want special, they have to pay for it.

I do not blame the providers who want to charge extra. Nor do I blame them if they want complete control of the children they take care of. I do however blame the parents that allow such things like this to happen.

Ok off my soap box ::

[Willow]

This has nothing to do with this thread really, but please don't say it like that.

My DH is a Type 1 insulin diabetic. He is NOT sick or ill. He does not have an illness that is going to go away some day like having strep throat or an ear infection.

I know that is really not what you meant and I respect the fact that you feel like a higher rate is unfair and such and I also admire the fact that you feel charging more is not morally or ethically right but saying diabetes is an illness or sickness just sits wrong with me.

My DH (and our whole family) have had to deal with biases and mis-information associated with having diabetes so I am aways quick to jump in to correct the wrong wording or wrong ideas about it...so forgive my haste, but I just get upset when people say illness or sickness...kwim?

I know it is just words...but he isn't sick and he isn't ill. He has a disease and one that he can and does live with to the best of his abilities but it isn't going to go away or get better.

My sincere apologies.

I knew when I typed the word it wasn't quite right, but could not think of the right way to convey it with what I was trying to say. I considered calling it a disease but actually that seemed to have even more of a negative connotation in my mind than the word illness did. Although it's a tough thing to live with undoubtedly I can imagine there is enough of a stigma surrounding any permanent affliction in a persons life as it is that that makes it even tougher.

Was trying not to add to that and failed, please know that wasn't my intention

[jokalima]

Here is not legal to do that, but I am going to have different rates for different families after I renew the contract, so I think you could do the same thing, have different rates. I know it sounds bad, but it is understandable that it is more work and if someone thinks they need to get paid more for doing it I can't judge them.

[CheekyChick]

It wouldn't matter if it was legal or not, charging a sicker child's parents a higher rate wouldn't sit right with me.

It's not their fault she's sick, and the price their child pays in life enduring her illness is infinitely high enough.


I'm sorry but IMHO you need to suck it up. Some kids need almost no care at all, they are smart and play well, are well behaved, eat well, clean up after themselves...then there are those who need loads of extra supervision because they can't play independently, are into and onto everything, are picky or messy eaters and buck clean up every single time. There are also those with long hair that need tending to throughout the day. Those who wear glasses or hearing aids that need special attention. Those with eczema that need creams put on daily. Those with allergies who need medications administered and reactions monitored etc. etc. etc.

If you start nit picky charging for everything that adds a bit more to your plate you better start doing that for all AND be willing to discount the parents of the easy streeters to boot.




DHS in MN has instituted DOC rates for special needs kids in foster care. Is that what you're talking about? Children that become wards of the state are assessed, given a number and that number corresponds with a reimbursement rate beyond the regular daily rate. Sure, if I've got a drug addicted detoxing newborn who doesn't sleep but two hours a day, needs to eat a specially prepared formula every one to two hours, baths several times a day to keep their bottom clear of the feces that literally burn their skin, doctors appointments several times a week and specialists coming into my home almost daily then that child will have a higher DOC number and I'll be reimbursed for the "extra" care I need to provide.

Not that it's necessary, I certainly didn't need or expect to make more money off the backs of sicker kids as opposed to healthy ones.

I don't know how that would relate to daycare though. Unless perhaps that child's rates are paid via county assistance?


K-12 teachers don't make more for kids in their classes that are more "difficult" to teach or handle. I'm not sure why preschool teachers should be able to.




When you talk about "giving" a wage increase to the next teacher just because she was a bit more work for you....frankly, I'd sue if I was the girl's parents and I was ever presented such a notion.

You don't know me or the way I run my business. I cater to and pamper each and every one of my families. I ALWAYS go the extra mile. I have watched children for free, I have given huge discounts when parents are going through tough times, I've never charged a late fee, and I will stay open for a parent who is running late with a smile on my face. I give gifts throughout the year to the children, their parents, and even a few grandparents. I hold baby showers for expectant mothers, I feed parents if they happen to be here during meal time, and I buy shoes, coats, and gloves for children that don't have them. Oh, and when this little girl was diagnosed, I spent hours upon hours of my OWN time meeting with her parents on Saturday(s) to learn to care for her.

Do NOT make me out to be a greedy, uncaring person. I am the furthest thing from that. I love this little girl, but she is the work of two children. She is moving to a different class and I feel it's fair to compensate her new teacher for the extra work she has in store - on top of her regular duties. Oh, and this family is doing well. One is a teacher and the other is a pharmacist. I do believe they can afford an extra 25 cents per hour.

[Willow]

Why do you think it should be up to you to raise the rates of a family you're not even going to be caring for any longer?

Why not let the new teacher decide if it's too much work on her own. Just because the girl was a lot for you to deal with doesn't mean the new teacher will feel the same way.


Using the excuse that the family is financially stable so who cares if you hike the rate....there just aren't words for a thought process like that......

[CheekyChick]

Why do you think it should be up to you to raise the rates of a family you're not even going to be caring for any longer?

Why not let the new teacher decide if it's too much work on her own. Just because the girl was a lot for you to deal with doesn't mean the new teacher will feel the same way.


Using the excuse that the family is financially stable so who cares if you hike the rate....there just aren't words for a thought process like that......

Why do I think it's up to me? Because I own and run MY daycare.

I never said she was "a lot to deal with," I said she requires a lot more work than the other children. Even though she is moving classes, I will STILL be caring for her. I just can't be in four different class rooms at one time - that is why I have assistants.

I've already spoke to the assistant in the toddler room and she feels a bit overwhelmed by the task at hand. I was hoping a slight wage increase would encourage her to take on this enormous task. I don't want to lose her OR the family.

"There just aren't words for a thought process like that." LOL!!! Once you run a successful business with 16 children per day and a waiting list a mile long, I might just listen to your input.

Have a great day.

[itlw8]

You may not refuse care for a child with a disability and you may not charge more for a child with a disability.

so the question is by law is diabetes a disability?

Ask Tom he would know the correct legal answer.

[Former Teacher]

so the question is by law is diabetes a disability?

When is diabetes a disability under the ADA? Diabetes is a disability when it substantially limits one or more of a person's major life activities