Twinkle Toe Shoes cause epileptic seizures?

[Mouse House Mama]

It would be a rare school system that has time the first weeks of school to engage in a long drawn out battle about the appropriateness of footwear. If the parent fights this school rule, what is that teaching the kid?

It seems to smack of the I am the center of this classroom, and I don't need to follow the rules of the group mentality.

It's the families like that that give me a headache. Just follow the rules. New or old. Just do it.

These aren't the rules. If the school had a ban on light up shoes then I would agree with you. If I go out and buy my kids shoes for school and there is no ban on them in the handbook etc. then don't call me and say "Oh- your kid's shoes are too blinky/striped/pretty etc. so you need to get new ones." Sorry but that is ridiculous and no- I would not buy new shoes. Too bad so sad. I am teaching my child to stand up for themselves when they did follow the rules and one person wants to change it to suit themselves.

 

[BellePrincessBelle]

They don't ask for that she has to just move to be away from the shirt. Sometimes her mom has to stand in front of her to block a person with a shirt that will impact her. But something as unnecessary as light up shoes can be. Do you think that peanuts should be allowed in school and the heck with any child who has a severe allergy to them?

Really who cares about light shoes? Is that a necessity? They not only can affect another child's wellness they can also cause distraction to many other children. They are at school.

Here's a HUGE shock for you our schools do allow peanuts!!! Shocking, I know. As a parent with children who have food allergies I fully support this. It's best to teach the child how to care for their allergy not avoidance.

 

[Hannathy]

They don't ask for that she has to just move to be away from the shirt. Sometimes her mom has to stand in front of her to block a person with a shirt that will impact her. But something as unnecessary as light up shoes can be. Do you think that peanuts should be allowed in school and the heck with any child who has a severe allergy to them?

Really who cares about light shoes? Is that a necessity? They not only can affect another child's wellness they can also cause distraction to many other children. They are at school.

Actually I do think peanuts should be allowed in schools now that you ask.
As far as the shoes everything even as some one said a pencil can be a distraction. You can't change the world for a single person.

 

[PrincessMomto2]

And to each his own. I am entitled to my opinion as are you. I believe you also mentioned your friend's child can possibly have seizures by looking at someone is a striped shirt? How can they avoid the possibility of running into someone with a striped shirt, or should everyone stop wearing them? And maybe her school did change the lightbulbs, but if this child ever gets a job in McDonalds or an office or a restaurant, will she then have been taught to expect the same accomodation? Everybody in the world has a story. You do the best you can to have accomodations for yourself and your children, but again, don't expect the whole world to change because of it.

We are talking about children. Not adults. Believe me her family does not ask for much like a said walk a day in their shoes and see if you even last. When she is an adult, she probably won't have a normal life. But as a child in a school she deserves to be in a safe place. Why the heck is a pair of shoes more important than other children? It is not like the school is taking away anyone civil liberties. The child can wear them outside of school. Don't see why this is even an issue. Be grateful that your children are healthy. I really would not make a big deal of this if it happened to my daughters. Can't understand why some are just so annoyed at the fact that the girl can't wear her shoes.

 

[Magpie]

blinking lights trigger my migranes and no, i do not watch tv in the dark, do not attend movies anymore (have'nt been to one in 3 years), do not drive at night (stuttering streetlights are more my issue-we don't have much if any blinking traffic lights in our area), don't play video games and avoid areas at disney and other entertainment venues with flashing lights/stobes (i have'nt been to a carnival or fair in close to 8 years b/c those lights realy push me over the edge). i don't put twinkle lights on my christmas tree, and generaly try to avoid going to stores around the holidays when they are prone to having them up.

ds is not quite as sensitive when it comes to some types of blinking lights, but he has his issues with it-he avoids the same venues i do, and while he will attend a movie it's never a 3-d (for some reason it definatly triggers a migraine).

these are all things within our personal scope of control. as for what goes on at school, the school as with a potential employer, is obligated under the ada to make 'reasonable' accommodations. in our case, if something is causing ds an issue triggering his migraines we first try to work it out for ourselves-when it was a sound issue (ds has very sensitive hearing and could hear the florescent bulbs starting to go out a week or two before they would start to dim or flicker) we got permission from the school to provide (at our own expense) ear protectors, when it was the scent a particular plant gave off, we just told ds to avoid being in proximity to it, when it was the scent a particular brand of marking pens the teacher required the kids to use-we just asked if ds could (again at our own expense) use a different brand, and when the class was using theirs, could he move near a window which would remain opened.

if it's something we cannot personaly control-as would be the case if ds was triggered by some lights on a pair of a classmates shoes, we would have to present this information to the school which would be legaly obligated to evaluate the situation, and attempt to make a reasonable accommodation.

i have to say, that given the restrictions some schools have placed based on the documented medical issues of their students, the concept of telling a parent that their child cannot wear a particular shoe seems to me, rather mild. i look to the school rules that ban particular foods on busses and campus, particular laundering products to be used on clothing worn on busses and campus, and other similar restrictions which seem a great deal more restrictive.

i don't perceive a child with a proven, documented medical condition whose parents are following school protocol by notifying if something is/could cause a medical episode as being a 'snowflake'. i think that term may be better suited to a child whose parents fight for them in a manner that they are taught that their personal wants and desires to wear whatever is the 'in/cool/must have' fashion item is paramount over another person's health.

As another person prone to migraines ------>

Thx!

 

[Green Tea]

These aren't the rules. If the school had a ban on light up shoes then I would agree with you. If I go out and buy my kids shoes for school and there is no ban on them in the handbook etc. then don't call me and say "Oh- your kid's shoes are too blinky/striped/pretty etc. so you need to get new ones." Sorry but that is ridiculous and no- I would not buy new shoes. Too bad so sad. I am teaching my child to stand up for themselves when they did follow the rules and one person wants to change it to suit themselves.

This is too the rule. The nurse called and said junior can't wear funky shoes anymore. There. Rule made.

 

[Kennywife]

Sorry, I would follow-up with the school. If they want to say it's a distraction, that's fine, but I don't believe it's because of seizures. I have to admit, I'm so sick and tired of the PC world and everyone being special and having special circumstances. So if there is a child who has issues, do they never watch TV in the dark, go to movies, drive in a car because a blinking traffic light could trigger a seizure? I'm also assuming they never play video games or go to Disney because we all know how many different strobes/lights, etc. there are there. I'm just incredulous at how people think the world is going to remove all the obstacles from their lives. What are we teaching our children? Even if you can remove all these obstacles on a school level, do you think an office is going to change all their lightbulbs for you? Or you'll never ride in a car at night because of the flashing headlights as you drive by? I know I'm obviously a heartless, mean, nasty person, but enough already. And we wonder why everyone is a snowflake with thier own special set of circumstances.

Obviously, you don't have seizures or know anyone who does. And for that, you can thank your lucky stars.

I am not so lucky. I have Epilepsy; three kinds mind you. I've lived with it for years. Let's see, I go to movies, watch tv in the dark, travel solo to Disney, finished college with a B.A. in Mass Communications, and am happily married. No, I don't drive and I don't expect EVERYONE to bend over backwards for me because I have a disability. Actually, most people with disabilities just want acceptance.

Believe it or not, those flashy things can cause seizures. Colored ones do not cause mine, but white ones do. For me, it's smell. Onions cause mine.
And to your question what are we teaching our children? Acceptance and compassion. You never know if the shoe may be on the other foot tomorrow and YOU may be called a "snowflake" just because you are different.

Anna

 

[BellePrincessBelle]

I don't think everyone realizes that most of us are sympathetic to those who do have epilespy however there is no proof what so ever that these shoes trigger a migrane or a seizure.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

This is too the rule. The nurse called and said junior can't wear funky shoes anymore. There. Rule made.

The nurse cannot make rules for a school. Also- if it is a rule it should apply to everyone. Sorry but I am not buying it. I am a big supporter of following the rules but not when they are only for some people and not for others.

 

[C.Ann]

blinking lights trigger my migranes and no, i do not watch tv in the dark, do not attend movies anymore (have'nt been to one in 3 years), do not drive at night (stuttering streetlights are more my issue-we don't have much if any blinking traffic lights in our area), don't play video games and avoid areas at disney and other entertainment venues with flashing lights/stobes (i have'nt been to a carnival or fair in close to 8 years b/c those lights realy push me over the edge). i don't put twinkle lights on my christmas tree, and generaly try to avoid going to stores around the holidays when they are prone to having them up.

ds is not quite as sensitive when it comes to some types of blinking lights, but he has his issues with it-he avoids the same venues i do, and while he will attend a movie it's never a 3-d (for some reason it definatly triggers a migraine).

these are all things within our personal scope of control. as for what goes on at school, the school as with a potential employer, is obligated under the ada to make 'reasonable' accommodations. in our case, if something is causing ds an issue triggering his migraines we first try to work it out for ourselves-when it was a sound issue (ds has very sensitive hearing and could hear the florescent bulbs starting to go out a week or two before they would start to dim or flicker) we got permission from the school to provide (at our own expense) ear protectors, when it was the scent a particular plant gave off, we just told ds to avoid being in proximity to it, when it was the scent a particular brand of marking pens the teacher required the kids to use-we just asked if ds could (again at our own expense) use a different brand, and when the class was using theirs, could he move near a window which would remain opened.

if it's something we cannot personaly control-as would be the case if ds was triggered by some lights on a pair of a classmates shoes, we would have to present this information to the school which would be legaly obligated to evaluate the situation, and attempt to make a reasonable accommodation.

i have to say, that given the restrictions some schools have placed based on the documented medical issues of their students, the concept of telling a parent that their child cannot wear a particular shoe seems to me, rather mild. i look to the school rules that ban particular foods on busses and campus, particular laundering products to be used on clothing worn on busses and campus, and other similar restrictions which seem a great deal more restrictive.

i don't perceive a child with a proven, documented medical condition whose parents are following school protocol by notifying if something is/could cause a medical episode as being a 'snowflake'. i think that term may be better suited to a child whose parents fight for them in a manner that they are taught that their personal wants and desires to wear whatever is the 'in/cool/must have' fashion item is paramount over another person's health.

 

[Kennywife]

I've been around flashing white lights and it made me light-headed and nauseated. That's called an aura. It means a seizure is coming. My husband and I moved to another area and it stopped. So, for some epi's anyway, flashy lights can cause attacks.

Anna

 

[PrincessMomto2]

Actually I do think peanuts should be allowed in schools now that you ask.
As far as the shoes everything even as some one said a pencil can be a distraction. You can't change the world for a single person.

Well, lets see, in my dd's pre-school 2 years ago, a little boy was so allergic to peanuts that the teacher's had to be trained on how to use an epi pen. This was kept in the classroom because if he had an allergic reaction by even breathing in the peanuts he could DIE! Are you willing to take that risk of hurting that child? Yes having a peanut free school is a pain in the butt for me too. But once again I am not willing to hurt another child so that I am not inconvenienced. Guess we do have different opinions.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

They don't ask for that she has to just move to be away from the shirt. Sometimes her mom has to stand in front of her to block a person with a shirt that will impact her. But something as unnecessary as light up shoes can be. Do you think that peanuts should be allowed in school and the heck with any child who has a severe allergy to them?

Really who cares about light shoes? Is that a necessity? They not only can affect another child's wellness they can also cause distraction to many other children. They are at school.

I bolded. While I do kind of agree with that statement I also disagree with it as well. For some kids it is very important. You have no idea what is going in that child's life. Maybe there is something very important about those shoes to that kid. Sounds stupid to you maybe but then again I think banning light up shoes for fear of seizures is stupid. I am sympathetic to illness etc. but I do think this is over the top and beyond ridiculous.

 

[barkley]

As another person prone to migraines ------>

Thx!

i think the migraine issue sometimes gets ignored b/c some think it is something that while annoying, does not present the dangers a siezure disorder can.

as a person whose migraines triggered strokes, with a child who carries the same risk, i do not perceive him as a 'snowflake' because i educate his teachers on his triggers, and they have the common sense and compassion to be observant, and in some cases preemptive, taking these into consideration in the classroom, just as they take into consideration the well being of all the students in their care.

 

[ccgirl]

Obviously, you don't have seizures or know anyone who does. And for that, you can thank your lucky stars.

I am not so lucky. I have Epilepsy; three kinds mind you. I've lived with it for years. Let's see, I go to movies, watch tv in the dark, travel solo to Disney, finished college with a B.A. in Mass Communications, and am happily married. No, I don't drive and I don't expect EVERYONE to bend over backwards for me because I have a disability. Actually, most people with disabilities just want acceptance.

Believe it or not, those flashy things can cause seizures. Colored ones do not cause mine, but white ones do. For me, it's smell. Onions cause mine.
And to your question what are we teaching our children? Acceptance and compassion. You never know if the shoe may be on the other foot tomorrow and YOU may be called a "snowflake" just because you are different.

Anna

Beautifully written! I was going to write that I am teaching my child kindness and to be thankful for what she doesn't have to go through and to do anything she can to help those that do.

 

[Wishing on a star]

This is too the rule. The nurse called and said junior can't wear funky shoes anymore. There. Rule made.

I very strongly disagree...

While, I would have NO problem at all going and getting the necessary footwear.... I would have a HUGE problem with the above statement...

Just because one person who happens to work at a school... (teacher, nurse, janitor, whomever) says something, does NOT a rule make.
I have seen enough of this kind of god complex with schools/educators.

If the teacher and the parents and the SPED department and all other required parties get together, decide that this is a required accomodation, it becomes official, per the child's IEP... THEN it might be considered a rule.... The appropriate action is then for the SCHOOL to send a memo to ALL parents, outlining what is allowed/not allowed.

But, for a teacher to call, or have the office call, a parent, and say "little Suzy (or even myself) do no like these shoes and see a potential problem, you have to come up here RIGHT NOW and meet our demand...

RIDICULOUS!!!!!!!!

(I still suspect that teacher just doesn't like students who show off frilly things... or little Suzy is just a whiny jealous child.....)

 

[onescgirl]

You know that nurse may be wishing that she used different wording and maybe you can "fight" the siezure issue, but why. It seems reasonable that these can be a distraction and an issue for those in the classroom. If she had used the word distraction I have a feeling the op would have put up just as much of a stink.

How do you say I am putting up a stink? Yes, I've vented here on the Disboards, but I have complied with the request & did not argue with the nurse about the request.
I did not even complain or state my objections about the request to my daughter because I don't want her to think negatively about anyone or anything at school.
We have been at this school from K5-5th grade. We love our school, the teachers & even the school nurse. Until now, I have never had a complaint.
The nurse called me & told me she had a complaint to her yesterday about my daughters shoes.
She stated the complaint was shoes could cause seizures & migraines with epilepsy.
I called Sketchers Customer Service to see if I could disable the blinking lights, to solve problem & make both sides happy. It was NOT to cause a stink. I told Customer Service the reason that I needed lights disabled. Cust. Svc. said lights could not be disabled and they said they would e-mail the info about the flashing frequency, that the shoes would not be a problem for epilepsy.

I agree. I hope the OP doesn't find out which child is complaining. The girls that have to get rid of their new shoes could really make the one feel sad, I fear.

I don't know if it was only my daughter banned from the shoes or the whole school. I was just called about this yesterday. I am not trying to find out which child made the complaint. I have always been the room mom & know most (but, not all) in the classroom anyway after going to the school from K5-5th grade. It's a great group of kids & I don't think anyone would make the child feel sad. If there is a child in the class with a problem, I want to make life easier for them.
I just don't know if it was a child that complained, or if it was a parent, or even if they are in my daughters class.

Did you ask about Migranes?

Denise in MI

I called Sketchers Customer Service to see if I could disable the blinking lights. I told the customer service that school said shoes would be a problem for epileptic students. She stated that the shoes would not be a problem for epilepsy.
The nurse said they could cause seizures & migraines for epileptic students.

The nurse did not mention complaint was for a student with just migraines.

Do we know if anyone is allowed to wear them at this school or if this girl is the only one being singled out?

I do not know if my daughter was the only one contacted since this was yesterday that I was contacted. I will ask my daughter today if others were wearing their Twinkle Toes today. I am very curious. If it's a school-wide just added policy then I will have no problem.



Everyone is talking about the shoes being a distraction.
Last year every parent received a automated phone call from principle saying the Silly Bandz were banned because they were a distraction. We happily complied.
If the school bans blinking shoes because they are a distraction, that will be fine & we will comply.
But, it's only posters on this board that 'distraction' is being mentioned as reason.
The reason I was given for my daughter to not wear her shoes was someone complained to the nurse yesterday about my daughters shoes.
She stated the complaint was the shoes could cause seizures & migraines for students with epilepsy.
I wanted to know if this was true.

NOTHING was said about a distraction.

And, the nurse said they could cause seizures & migraines for epileptic students. The nurse did not mention complaint was for a student with just migraines.

 

[Wishing on a star]

I called Sketchers Customer Service to see if I could disable the blinking lights, to solve problem & make both sides happy. It was NOT to cause a stink. I told Customer Service the reason that I needed lights disabled. Cust. Svc. said lights could not be disabled and they said they would e-mail the info about the flashing frequency, that the shoes would not be a problem for epilepsy.

Excellent course of action!!!!
I totally agree with your post here, which were simply asking if anybody had ever dealt with kind of issue re: seizures.
And I totally agree with how you are handling the situation.

Also, IMHO, these shoes should be required to have a switch....

 

[RadioNate]

Sorry, I would follow-up with the school. If they want to say it's a distraction, that's fine, but I don't believe it's because of seizures. I have to admit, I'm so sick and tired of the PC world and everyone being special and having special circumstances. So if there is a child who has issues, do they never watch TV in the dark, go to movies, drive in a car because a blinking traffic light could trigger a seizure? I'm also assuming they never play video games or go to Disney because we all know how many different strobes/lights, etc. there are there. I'm just incredulous at how people think the world is going to remove all the obstacles from their lives. What are we teaching our children? Even if you can remove all these obstacles on a school level, do you think an office is going to change all their lightbulbs for you? Or you'll never ride in a car at night because of the flashing headlights as you drive by? I know I'm obviously a heartless, mean, nasty person, but enough already. And we wonder why everyone is a snowflake with thier own special set of circumstances.

Snowflake goes both ways. Boo hoo, someone can't wear their flashy light up shoes at school....oh no they have to suffer with cheap regular shoes while in school and can only wear their special shoes on weekends and after school.

See??? Snowflake can go both ways.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

Snowflake goes both ways. Boo hoo, someone can't wear their flashy light up shoes at school....oh no they have to suffer with cheap regular shoes while in school and can only wear their special shoes on weekends and after school.

See??? Snowflake can go both ways.

You are right- it could.


FTR- I don't buy my kid cheap shoes.