sunglasses indoors-thoughts?

[BeckyESRN]

We have a student who wears prescription sunglasses everyday. It is causing problems in the classroom now because he can't see when the teachers dim the lights to use the document camera or to show a movie. He will not wear regular glasses and his mother told the teacher that she is "discriminating" against him. There have been worries about cheating also, which is really hard to monitor because you can't see his eyes. These are not a light color lens, these are black lens. I cannot find any medical info. on this being harmful-other than causing some photosensitivity- so I told them that this needs to be a admin. decision. It is a violation of the dress code to wear sunglasses, but since these are prescription, they allowed it. Any thoughts?

[KeeperOfTheIceRN, ADN]

So, he CAN'T wear regular glasses or he REFUSES to wear regular glasses?? Its only discriminating if he has an MD order to wear them all of the time and y'all aren't allowing that or making accommodations for it. There's a difference in a prescription for sunglasses so one doesn't have wear some OVER their existing glasses and a prescription to wear them all the time, even indoors. Just because he has a prescription for sunglasses doesn't mean he has an order from an MD to wear them all of the time. I think that should be your deciding factor. If there is an MD order for him to wear them indoors, then you have to let him. Other than that, I would think they need to get him a regular pair of glasses for school. If there is no medical necessity for sunglasses inside, then there is no discriminating occurring. Sorry kid, you're just gonna have to look like us regular folks in our regular glasses.....

[Eleven011]

Ya, that wouldn't work here either unless he had dr. order stating a need for the sunglass option.

[Emergent, RN]

Don't you know that sunglasses are so much cooler than boring regular glasses? Are you bigoted against cool kids? Are you taking your memories of being uncool in high school out on this oppressed young man?

[MrNurse(x2), ADN]

Sad that parents went right to discrimination, another victim in the making. I'd let him stay blind when the lights are dimmed and make him isolate for tests, ahhh, to be a Principal...

[BeckyESRN]

He just does want regular glasses. I think it's absurd, but when I brought it up at the start of the year, no one cared and the assistant principle said a doctor's note wouldn't be necessary. Now that it's effecting the teacher, they want it to be a nursing problem. I feel like, if a doctor's note is now necessary, that this needs to be brought up by administration because there is more going on than a medical issue.

[KeeperOfTheIceRN, ADN]

He just does want regular glasses. I think it's absurd, but when I brought it up at the start of the year, no one cared and the assistant principle said a doctor's note wouldn't be necessary. Now that it's effecting the teacher, they want it to be a nursing problem. I feel like, if a doctor's note is now necessary, that this needs to be brought up by administration because there is more going on than a medical issue.

It sounds like your administration shot themselves in the foot with this one! I agree, admin needs to address the issues at hand and state that an MD order needs to be on file for the sunglasses or he's just going to have to buck up and wear normal glasses like everyone else.

[grammy1]

In our school, there would be no way around the doctor's note. No note, no sunglasses indoors.

[BeckyESRN]

In our school, there would be no way around the doctor's note. No note, no sunglasses indoors.

That's what I wanted at the start of the school year, but mom had already spoken to the teachers and the assistant principal and they okayed the prescription sunglasses without an actual written prescription. I talked to the assistant principal today and he requested a meeting with mom this week, we'll see what happens!

[NutmeggeRN, BSN]

Not sure I understand the reason? the diagnosis? When kids are suffering from concussion,that is one of the first accommodations we give them. Other than I temporary accommodation, I would also ask for medical documentation, and frame it so that "We are sure we are not missing anything else may need"

[BeckyESRN]

Not sure I understand the reason? the diagnosis? When kids are suffering from concussion,that is one of the first accommodations we give them. Other than I temporary accommodation, I would also ask for medical documentation, and frame it so that "We are sure we are not missing anything else may need"

Just because he needed glasses for poor vision. Mom thought that prescription sunglasses were the way to go. I don't understand it either, but mom okayed it with admin over the summer, so I think it's up to them now. They were wanting me to say that there is some medical reason that wearing dark lens indoors is harmful

[BeckyESRN]

Yay! He came in today with normal lens in his Ray-Ban frames. He told me that it was too hard to see anything with the dark lens since we moved the clocks back...