08/19/2025
As you may be aware, New York State has enacted a restriction on use of cell phones during school starting this Fall. This is to prevent learning disruptions, negative impact on mental health and social disconnection thought to be caused by the use of phones in school by students. The providers at Latham Pediatrics support this new policy and are optimistic about its effectiveness and positive outcome for our patients and their families.
We understand that some patients, due to specific medical conditions requiring medical technology and monitoring, may need to be exempted from this rule. However, we anticipate this will be a very small number of our patients.
Some examples of medical conditions that require technology may include:
Type 1 diabetes and other conditions requiring continuous glucose monitoring
Cochlear implant and other hearing devices
Cardiac implant and other rhythm monitoring devices
If your child does not have a specific medical condition that requires monitoring via a phone device, medical proof of exemption will not be provided by our team . This includes mental health conditions like anxiety and depression, as well as dysautonomia conditions.
Families are welcomed to discuss further with your child’s subspecialist(s), which may include mental health providers, as medical proof of exemption may be more comfortably provided by their team.
We encourage you to review a great resource for parents at the link here:
https://mcusercontent.com/d92f8797afac26203c2a6f9a9/files/1c0617d6-1eb4-0213-9e34-e95cf445725f/NYS_Distraction_Free_Schools_Policy_Family_Handout.pdf
As always, we are happy to discuss further and can be reached during our business hours.
