Working around Manitoba's cellphone ban a challenge, says mom of student who uses device for medical reasons

The mother of a Grade 9 student with diverse learning needs said her son's first day of high school was overwhelming, since Manitoba's cellphone ban in schools meant he was unable to use a device he relies on for emotional support and as an educational tool.

Donna Bagu said her 13-year-old son — who has ADHD, anxiety and an intellectual disability — uses a tablet, supplied by the division, or cellphone in school to help regulate his emotions and learn, which "works wonders for him."

But a lack of communication between Winnipeg's Pembina Trails Division and her son's school resulted in him going home in the afternoon on the first day back, which was upsetting, she said. 

"He walked into the school yesterday [Wednesday] with no technology and no device, and it was very tough for him," Bagu told host Marcy Markusa during an interview with CBC Manitoba's Information Radio.

"He did the morning and then he … came home in the afternoon when the classes really started, because he got nervous."

In a mid-August letter, Education Minister Nello Altomare directed leaders of Manitoba's publicly funded grade schools to prohibit students from kindergarten to Grade 8 from using their cellphones at all during school hours starting this fall.

Students in grades 9 to 12 are only allowed to use the devices during lunch and other breaks.

Manitoba was the last western Canadian province to introduce a cellphone ban for K-12 students. Saskatchewan announced a policy the week before, following announcements in Alberta, B.C., Quebec, Ontario and Nova Scotia.

Manitoba's guidelines allow in-class phone use for educational purposes if directed by teachers, and makes exceptions for students with medical conditions or diverse learning needs. 

Bagu said she even spoke with her son's pediatrician to discuss whether the 13-year-old may need a medical exemption so he can use his cellphone if the school's device isn't available.

She had a meeting with her son's principal Thursday and advocated for her son, who was then able to secure a tablet as an educational and emotional support tool in class. His second day at school was a lot better and he wasn't as unsettled, she said.

"I see a lot of children and families going through this, and they don't know what steps to take," Bagu said. "There's a lot of kids out there that are in the school system, and their parents are lost."

May not need doctor's note: pediatrician

While parents can get a doctor's note for their child, a Winnipeg pediatrician said parents do not need to get one in order for students to be exempt from the cellphone ban. 

"There are allowances within the policy for parents to have open discussion with the teachers and principals," Dr. Ruth Grimes said during an interview on CBC's Information Radio Thursday. 

Cellphones can be a distraction in school, and having access to certain social media platforms can be dangerous for children and teens, said Grimes, who is a former president of the Canadian Paediatric Society.

But if it's being used as a medical support — using an app to monitor sugar levels for someone with diabetes, for example — having a device can be helpful, she said.

Grimes said she has not yet provided any notes for medical exemptions under the ban, but she anticipates there will be requests. 

Information Radio - MB8:38What should parents do if they feel their child needs to have their phone with them in the classroom for medical reasons?

Dr. Ruth Grimes, a local pediatrician, tells host Marcy Markusa why parents trying to get a doctor's note to exempt their kids from the school cellphone ban might be wasting their time and their doctor's

In a post on its website, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba said that providing a doctor's note is a "serious responsibility and should not be done without due diligence."

Some requests "may not be as clear-cut and will require clinical judgment in determining whether a medical note is warranted," it said.

Pembina Trails School Division did not respond before publication to CBC's request to comment on medical exemptions for the cellphone ban. 

A spokesperson for another school division in Winnipeg said its staff speak with parents to understand a student's medical and learning needs and "implement accordingly."

Any exemptions are documented in the student's health-care plan, said the spokesperson for the Louis Riel School Division.

The spokesperson also cited the example of a student with diabetes who uses their cellphone to monitor blood glucose levels.

"In such cases, students are allowed to use the phone for this purpose only and have proven to be very responsible in this regard," the spokesperson said in an email statement. 

Louis Riel School Division did not say how many students have been approved for an exemption. 

Meanwhile, Bagu said she spoke with her teenager about how, if questions come up, he might explain to other students or parents why he's using a tablet or cellphone. 

"He is not a person to shy away from saying that he has a disability," she said. "[People] have to understand the reasons behind it."