Technology & communication policies
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Type 1 Way Ticket programs are designed to promote independence, self-reliance, presence, and community building. To that end, we require our travelers and families to adhere to the following technology and communication policies.
PHONES (DIABETES AND NON-DIABETES USES)
To maximize independence and self-reliance, we do not permit travelers to use their phones for reasons other than 1) diabetes management and 2) cameras. As such, we do not permit phone calls, emails, or text or social media messages to or from our travelers for the duration of the program. The exceptions to this are: travelers will call home on arrival and departure and in the event of an emergency.
Travelers bringing smartphones for both personal (non-diabetes-related, camera uses) and diabetes purposes will be expected to turn their phones on airplane mode (keeping Bluetooth on) for the duration of their program.
While having a phone makes it possible to connect to local wifi networks in-country, we trust that travelers will respect the honor system and engage with the unique opportunity afforded to be less connected to their phones and social media.
If you or your traveler plans to bring a phone for diabetes purposes, we recommend bringing a backup phone in the case of damage, loss, or theft. While we teach our travelers to take reasonable steps to prevent damage, loss, and theft of phones, we take no responsibility for phones, and we will not make any reimbursements for lost, damaged, or stolen phones.
If you or your traveler are a Looper, we recommend building Loop onto the backup phone, so that you/your traveler may continue looping in the event their primary phone is damaged, stolen, or lost.
Other electronics
Cameras are welcome but please do not bring any other electronics (i.e. iPods, iPads, Kindles or other e-readers, gaming devices, etc.) All electronics (except cameras) will be mailed home on arrival (at your risk and expense).
Especially if you use a phone for diabetes management, we recommend bringing an external charger.
Remote monitoring
In order to further foster independence and self-health management skills, we do not permit parent/guardians to remote monitor their teen’s CGM during the program. Those with access to travelers’ CGM data must agree to abide by our remote monitoring policy and disable Follow access between departure and arrival home. We also ask that our travelers disable Share access.
We trust that our community will respect the honor system and engage with the opportunity for travelers to develop greater self-responsibility and reliance.
In order for our 100% of our Program Leaders’ time, effort, and energy to be on the group, we ask that you do not contact the Type 1 Way Ticket office if you have not disabled Follow/Share and your traveler is out of range.
In the event of an emergency, diabetes or otherwise, Type 1 Way Ticket staff will contact parents to discuss the nature of the incident, response, and treatment plan.
Communication
While travelers are on-program, parents can expect to receive a blog post written by a member of the group via email every 2-3 days. Parents can also follow @type1wayticket on Instagram, where the group photographer will be documenting daily activities and highlights.
To support travelers’ development of independence and self-reliance, and to ensure that Program Leaders are devoting all of their energy to the group, we ask you to refrain from regularly contacting the Type 1 Way Ticket office for updates on your traveler.
Please be assured that any time a traveler is treated for an injury or illness by a doctor or medical personnel, you will be contacted by us. In almost every instance of injury or illness, parents are able to speak with the attending medical professional, with their traveler’s leaders, and with their traveler.