How would you feel if your child were on of the teams Hernani would be coaching ? Why?

Hernani Fermin, 35 yr old married father, was diagnosed HIV positive. he left his job as a sales representative. His doctor suggested he rethink his carrer goals.

He sent out resumes . Finally one was well received by South Hills Middle school. They had a opening in their math department, plus a need for someone to coach after-school athletics, and they wanted to meet with him. He hadn't interviewed since the twins were born seven years ago. He thought about the question normally asked--would there be some question about his health ? Being HIV positive shouldn't have any bearing on his ability to teach, but parents might be concerned. And it might be disqualify him for the school's health insurance policy. Hernani believed in honesty, but what would happen to his family revealed his HIV status?

Wouldn't care. It would bother me more to think you would be anywhere near my son.

You need an education on HIV.

Are you Hernani Fermin??? If not and you are using real names you have NO right to broadcast their medical status over the internet. And if you are discussing yourself you do NOT need to put so much personal information on the internet. We don't need your name or the name of the school where you are applying or your doctor's name either.

Secondly, if this person is capable of doing the job the school can not deny him the right to do do the job based on his medical status as long as he is capable of doing it. It is against the law in the United States to discriminate against someone with HIV/Aids status. Obviously it would be best if he disclosed his status to the school, but it can not be a factor in his employment. Obviously he would need to take precautions if he had an open sore or cut himself etc... There really is no risk to the children, they would not be coming into contact with his bodily fluids. Now, he might want to think twice about teaching in a school since he would be exposed to a lot of kids and germs on a day to day basis. Kids come to school with colds and all kinds of stuff on a regular basis. What is just a cold to someone who has a regular immune system could cause serious illness in someone who is immune compromised.

Does he even have a teaching certificate? If he doesn't have a teaching certificate he probably won't qualify for the job anyway. So it would be a mute point. I personally would have no problem with my children being taught by someone who is HIV positive as long as he follows careful protocal if a child were hurt and bleeding, etc. But I would not have my child taught by someone who is not certified to teach. Our schools only allow certified teachers to teach and I think that is VERY important. It doesn't matter to me their HIV status as long as they are certified to teach.

Now if he does get the teaching job and gets a teaching certificate he will need to take precautions during the after school coaching should a student become injured. Obviously he should discuss what precautions need to be followed with the school nurse. Since it's very easy for a kid to get hurt and with reasonable precautions there isn't anything to worry about. Obviously your body fluids should NOT come in contact with anyone else at any time.

Why couldn't he continue being a sales representative? HIV would not prevent him from doing his job as a salesman.

Hopefully he has informed his wife about his HIV status. If she has not already been tested she should be ASAP. It's also extremely important that his children be tested as well.

http://www.aidsmap.com/cms1007521.asp

From December 2006 people who are living with HIV are protected by the Disability Discrimination Act (1996).