Twinkle Toe Shoes cause epileptic seizures?

[Hannathy]

I've been wondering if the shoes are allowed for in the dress code and the rest of the school is being allowed to wear them CAN the school forbid her DD to wear them or can the just ASK her to not wear them. I would really like to know the answer to this question, because there is a BIG difference.

 

[Scurvy]

I can understand that but wouldn't that child have to walk to other parts of the school and be exposed to those flashing lights? What about when they went to lunch and there are 100 kids in there and 1/4 of them have those shoes? If they are going to request that the OP's dd not wear them because they can cause seizures then the right thing would be to request that nobody in the school wear them at all to protect any student prone to seizures or migraines.

I agree completely. But in the cases I'm aware of with other triggers (like scents or food items) the school has first focused on the class where the child spends the most time, and then tried to make a policy for the school at large. I do think it's pointless to just take them out of that one class and not the rest of the school, unless they are not allowing the child in question to mingle with the rest of the students. If he/she is eating in a separate area and only traveling the halls when most other students aren't in the hall then that's more understandable to me. It's possible the school is doing that - trying to minimize the number of people who are affected by this. Or it's possible that the shoes are only really a problem for the student when the lights are dimmed. Maybe the lights are bright enough in the halls and cafeteria that the flashing shoes aren't a problem, but it's dimmer in the classroom for some reason and the flashing stands out more there. Is it fair to the ones who are in class with the child in question? No, not really. But it may be the best solution they've found at this time. The school has to make accomodations for a student with a medical problem, whether they want to or not. They don't have to allow flashing shoes, and if the shoes are causing a medical issue for another student then the school really has no choice - they have to ban the shoes and/or limit the child's exposure to the shoes as much as possible.

You can probably imagine how well the school at large is likely to take such a change in policy, though, just from the responses on this thread. It's usually easier to control behavior within one class - people are more likely to be willing to make changes to help someone if it's their child's classmate. People are much more resistant when it's just some random kid somewhere in the school that their child may never interact with.

Even knowing that the shoes may be causing a health issue for another student (whether that's a seizure or "just" a migraine) many people on this thread have stated that their child would keep wearing the shoes. They aren't willing to have their children give up this novelty item for the sake of another student. Since so many people are focusing on the likelyhood of the shoes actually causing seizures (and are completely discounting the possibility of migraines) I wonder if the reactions would be different if the school was banning the shoes purely because they are a distraction. I have a hard time believing that people would be more likely to leave the shoes at home just because they are distracting people, when they aren't willing to do so for the sake of someone's health.

I've been wondering if the shoes are allowed for in the dress code and the rest of the school is being allowed to wear them CAN the school forbid her DD to wear them or can the just ASK her to not wear them. I would really like to know the answer to this question, because there is a BIG difference.

I don't know about dress codes. I do know that in my area teachers are allowed some discretion in what they allow in their classrooms. For example, the schools my son attended allowed students to use rolling backpacks and trapper keepers. Some individual teachers, however, did not allow them. My son was always disappointed when he was in a class where they weren't allowed. Some parents threw fits and went to the office to demand that their children be able to bring those items, and they were informed that the teachers had the right to forbid them if they chose to. I would think that the individual teachers could also forbid novelty items like flashing shoes, but I really don't know.

 

[C.Ann]

Even knowing that the shoes may be causing a health issue for another student (whether that's a seizure or "just" a migraine) many people on this thread have stated that their child would keep wearing the shoes. They aren't willing to have their children give up this novelty item for the sake of another student. Since so many people are focusing on the likelyhood of the shoes actually causing seizures (and are completely discounting the possibility of migraines) I wonder if the reactions would be different if the school was banning the shoes purely because they are a distraction. I have a hard time believing that people would be more likely to leave the shoes at home just because they are distracting people, when they aren't willing to do so for the sake of someone's health..

This is what makes me so sad - and frustrated - with this situation..

I'm hoping the OP will make the effort to talk to the school officials and find out exactly why this appears to have pertained only to her DD's class - and then return to this thread to post the answer..

If it is to protect someone's health - or prevent the possibility of a potential health problem (perhaps an episode happened elsewhere and now that it's known to pose a risk, this message didn't go out until now) people here might be a little more willing to accommodate the at-risk person.. If that still wouldn't change their minds - well....

 

[Becky2005]

So go buy some tape. Stick a piece on over the light for school, yank it off at home.

That was my first thought -- can't you just tape up the lights? Problem solved. You child still gets to wear her shoes & no blinking lights during school.

NOW if the lights are gone and they still say there is a problem, that would make me wonder.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

Standing up for shoes?

After reading this entire thread it seems to me that there is an entire generation of bullies being cultivated!!!!

If a parent and/or child choices not to believe in medical issues, only believes symptoms are text book & don't differ from person to person they either have their head in the sand or believe only in "self" hence the bully breeding!

Yeah that's it. I am breeding bullies. You found me out.

It is not about standing up for shoes. The OP read the school handbook and bought her child's clothing according to the rules. Now all of a sudden the rules change for just the OP's kid and the OP is out $50 after she has followed all the rules. Sorry but that is wrong. You can't pick and choose who the rules apply to. The OP should not be penalized for actually following the written rules of the school. So yes- I think in that situation you need to stand up for yourself and not just blindly be a sheep.

Oh- and I don't care what anyone says you can't notice those shoes lighting up during the day inside or out unless you are looking directly at them. So no- I don't believe the seizure migraine thing. Unless they now teach school in a windowless room with all the lights turned off.

 

[PrincessMomto2]

I was responding to a personal attack by another poster, which has been removed by the moderators. SO... my statement doesn't make much sense sorry.

Thanks for explanation

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

Yeah that's it. I am breeding bullies. You found me out.

It is not about standing up for shoes. The OP read the school handbook and bought her child's clothing according to the rules. Now all of a sudden the rules change for just the OP's kid and the OP is out $50 after she has followed all the rules. Sorry but that is wrong. You can't pick and choose who the rules apply to. The OP should not be penalized for actually following the written rules of the school. So yes- I think in that situation you need to stand up for yourself and not just blindly be a sheep.

Oh- and I don't care what anyone says you can't notice those shoes lighting up during the day inside or out unless you are looking directly at them. So no- I don't believe the seizure migraine thing. Unless they now teach school in a windowless room with all the lights turned off.

Did you ever think there was a medical diagnosis post creation of the handbook?
Why is that not even a possibility for you?

Apparently empathy for medical conditions is something lacking on this thread as a whole.
You must have one very healthy family & all I have to say that is wonderful when it happens. This could be a time to teach tolerance.
Not all teachers/school nurses are out to lie to parents.....

 

[Mouse House Mama]

Did you ever think there was a medical diagnosis post creation of the handbook?
Why is that not even a possibility for you?

Apparently empathy for medical conditions is something lacking on this thread as a whole.
You must have one very healthy family & all I have to say that is wonderful when it happens. This could be a time to teach tolerance.
Not all teachers/school nurses are out to lie to parents.....

It is certainly a possibility for me. I also would accomodate if a child of course if they were ill. I just do not believe that twinkle toes are going to cause seizures. I think it is beyond far fetched. The OP contacted the company and they have confirmed it. I also think that the teacher should have sent home a note stating that there is to be no blinky shoes in class prior to the school year starting. The teacher knows who is in the class and I would imagine that the child who is having a problem would have parents who would let the teacher know prior to school starting. The whole thing seems off to me. I also own a pair of the shoes that the OP is talking about and you cannot even see them light up unless someone points it out and you really look or it is dark.

As for having a super healthy family I only wish that was true. I have seen more illness in my extended family than most and I would never wish it on anyone. My kids know empathy and they are wonderful to others who are ill. They get it because we teach them. As a parent though I do not believe the whole seizure thing. Sorry but I don't.

 

[cm8]

Everything is a distraction to kids. You could send them to school in a burlap bag and they would be distracted.

 

[tinker&belle]

I am interested in what happens with the meeting with the principal. My guess is it IS a genuine, medical disorder OR it is a teacher who is so annoyed with the shoes she mentioned something to the nurse about how they drove her so crazy they were going to give her a migraine and pushed the nurse to do this.

I had a good friend who got seizures so I have a lot of sympathy for that if it is real. I also taught for several years and the kids DID wear and do things that gave me headaches (think of banging tamborines, drums, etc.). I taught with someone prone to migraines and if it was a day she was prone to one she would take a sick day since it was her job to be with the children, as they were not to make them accomodate her. I know they can't tell you much about the medical condition, but I think the authenticity could really vary in this situation.

 

[Scurvy]

It is not about standing up for shoes. The OP read the school handbook and bought her child's clothing according to the rules. Now all of a sudden the rules change for just the OP's kid and the OP is out $50 after she has followed all the rules. Sorry but that is wrong. You can't pick and choose who the rules apply to. The OP should not be penalized for actually following the written rules of the school. So yes- I think in that situation you need to stand up for yourself and not just blindly be a sheep.

Oh- and I don't care what anyone says you can't notice those shoes lighting up during the day inside or out unless you are looking directly at them. So no- I don't believe the seizure migraine thing. Unless they now teach school in a windowless room with all the lights turned off.

HsvTeacher and I have both said that the shoes are noticeable to us even in a well lit room. Do you really think we are both lying about that?

As for the bolded, if the school rules contain any mention of "other distractions" or anything like that, then that's all they need to be able to say (rightfully) that these shoes are not allowed. Yes, it's unfortunate that they didn't tell the OP before school started. Obviously it would have been better for her to know before she did her back to school shopping. But they did tell her during the first week of school. They may not have known the shoes were a problem for a particular student until after school started.

What do you expect the school to do if they are informed that the flashing shoes are a problem for a child with a documented medical problem? They have to make accomodations for that child. They have no choice. You've been on the Disboards long enough to have seen all the threads about parents who are fighting to force schools to accomodate their kids' different disablilities and medical issues. If there's a parent whose kid has migraines or seizures and who believes (rightly or wrongly) that the flashing shoes are causing the problem, they are going to demand that the school do something about the shoes. The administrators can't tell the child's parents that the kid is just going to have to put up with the seizures or migraines. They also can't provide documentation about the specifics of the situation to the other parents in order to justify the new rule. They have told the OP that her child can't wear the shoes to school because they can contribute to another child's medical problem. If you don't think the school should be doing that, then what do you think they should do to accomodate the child with the issue?

 

[klj27]

I like skechers (so I am not knocking that company) but it surprises me the number of posters who are willing to totally believe the stats given out by the company who has a lot to lose versus the epilepsy website and posters who suffer from migraines/siezures.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

HsvTeacher and I have both said that the shoes are noticeable to us even in a well lit room. Do you really think we are both lying about that?
I have no idea if you are lying but let me put it a better way. While I may notice them (and I don't notice them) they are not noticeable in a distractable way. To me they are no more noticeable than having tinkerbell on your shoes. You look and think "cute" and then it is off the radar.


As for the bolded, if the school rules contain any mention of "other distractions" or anything like that, then that's all they need to be able to say (rightfully) that these shoes are not allowed. Yes, it's unfortunate that they didn't tell the OP before school started. Obviously it would have been better for her to know before she did her back to school shopping. But they did tell her during the first week of school. They may not have known the shoes were a problem for a particular student until after school started.

What do you expect the school to do if they are informed that the flashing shoes are a problem for a child with a documented medical problem? They have to make accomodations for that child. They have no choice. You've been on the Disboards long enough to have seen all the threads about parents who are fighting to force schools to accomodate their kids' different disablilities and medical issues. If there's a parent whose kid has migraines or seizures and who believes (rightly or wrongly) that the flashing shoes are causing the problem, they are going to demand that the school do something about the shoes. The administrators can't tell the child's parents that the kid is just going to have to put up with the seizures or migraines. They also can't provide documentation about the specifics of the situation to the other parents in order to justify the new rule. They have told the OP that her child can't wear the shoes to school because they can contribute to another child's medical problem. If you don't think the school should be doing that, then what do you think they should do to accomodate the child with the issue?

I think that a school should make reasonable accomodations for every child. However- the rest of the school is wearing them! The alleged (since we don't even know if there is a child) sufferer is going to come across these kids everywhere. Is the kid going to eat lunch and go on the playground? Are they going to gym class? While I would happily do what I could to help someone who is going to help the OP? She bought her child shoes that were acceptable according to the school code. Now they are not- regardless of the reason - so who is going to pay for new shoes? It doesn't matter if the shoes were $50 or $1. This mistake/change is going to now cost another family money and to be quite honest not all families have the extra or want to spend it when they bought a perfectly good pair of shoes in the first place. Who is going to accomodate this child that needs shoes to wear to school?

 

[MiniGirl]

I would be upset, too. We always only bought one pair of gym appropriate shoes for our dds. The rest of the time they were in crocs or sandals. Because they hate sneaks, we would buy something sparkly that they wanted just so gym days (and having to wear sneakers) were a little bit easier for us.

That said..... I would still comply with the orders not to wear those shoes. It would be with the caveat, though, that you will buy new shoes when you are able to afford it. For us, that would mean my girls would wear inappropriate shoes on gym days and have to sit out. I would also expect them to not be penalized for not having appropriate shoes for PE. I would also expect it to be a school-wide ban. I know my dds' classes often joined with another class for some subjects and of course, recess, lunch, and other things were done with other classes as well. If it truly is a medical issue and those lights are as powerful as people are saying, then why take the chance? Ban them for everyone.

 

[Hannathy]

The school could offer to move the child who they bother to another class.
But will there ever be a class they are happy with? what if the next thing is they don't like the neon orange shirt or the striped leggings?

No one has answered my question of whether the school can demand her DD not wear them or just ask if it isn't in the rules and without enforcing it for the whole school. I really would like to know. I am going to have to ask my BIL who is a principal what the rule is in his state.

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

My DD8 wanted these so bad and I finally got them for her at Kohl's, on sale, with a $10 off coupon and my grandma bought them (senior discount) on her Credit card (with a shopping pass, 15% off) and in the end I paid $10 and since we bought other things we got some of that back in Kohl's Cash.
I was so proud of myself. Anyway, I wonder how this will play out in our school. Either way she will have them for all other times (she can't wait to wear them in Disney.)

 

[HsvTeacher]

I have no idea if you are lying but let me put it a better way. While I may notice them (and I don't notice them) they are not noticeable in a distractable way. To me they are no more noticeable than having tinkerbell on your shoes. You look and think "cute" and then it is off the radar.

And I can assure you that in a classroom full of 19 seven-year-olds, it is a distraction, and they are quite noticeable, especially when three girls are wearing them, and they are constantly blinking.

A time and a place for everything...

 

[suzanna1066@comcast.]

This seems to be a battle of snowflakes if you ask me.
"Your snowflake can't wear the latest fad because it will hurt my snowflake." "No! My snowflake needs to wear her cool shoes."

I lean on the side of the school. I'm no expert so I will not speculate on potential medical issues, however, I can understand how these shoes can be distracting especially if most girls are wearing them.

Full disclosure: My daughter was begging me for a pair this past weekend and I did let her try them on. However, I thought they were cheaply made and not worth the price so didn't buy them.

 

[Scurvy]

I have no idea if you are lying but let me put it a better way. While I may notice them (and I don't notice them) they are not noticeable in a distractable way. To me they are no more noticeable than having tinkerbell on your shoes. You look and think "cute" and then it is off the radar.

Let me assure, I am not lying. I can't help but notice them, and I certainly would rather not. I find them quite annoying. Unfortunately for me, flashing LEDs at the corners of my vision trigger my migraines sometimes.

Who is going to accomodate this child that needs shoes to wear to school?

No one, I assume. Nobody has to. Legally the school has to accomodate the child with the medical problem. There is no law which says they have to accomodate the child who needs new shoes. If someone uses their entire shoe budget on a novelty product which their child is then not allowed to wear at school, maybe they can find a charitable organization to help them acquire replacement shoes. Or maybe the school would be okay with the student wearing the shoes as long as her parents covered the lights with duct or electrical tape so the flashing isn't visible, as several posters have mentioned.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

And let's not forget the possibility that it's really a teacher who is just annoyed by them and knows enough to create a supposed medical condition in order to have the annoyance removed. I can't believe that flashing lights are more likely conducive to a migraine than a room full of kids on any given day.