Starting a new school year with food allergies
The other day I wrote a post with tips for starting the school year with food allergies. Some of the question in the comments asked if we as food allergy parents thought that it would be beneficial if we put a "group" together in our school system (similar to what was done with the Loudoun Allergy Network to educate our school system and other non food allergy parents about what is necessary to keep our children safe. Loudoun Allergy Network is the only one of it's kind that I'm aware of. We do not have a similar organization in our area. Have you ever thought of starting a network like this in your area or are in the process of organizing a similar network? Do you think it would help educate the school and other non food allergy individuals about your child's food allergies?
What other suggestions do you have for parents who may be sending their food allergy child to school for the first time? Have you ever met with resistance from a teacher or school to keeping your child safe? How did you handle it?
I know I've asked a lot of questions. Feel free to answer them here or to just share a link to an external blog post that you may have already done that answers any of these questions. Beginning a new school year can be a scary time for those with food allergies. Anything you can add that can help lessen that fear would be much appreciated.
What other suggestions do you have for parents who may be sending their food allergy child to school for the first time? Have you ever met with resistance from a teacher or school to keeping your child safe? How did you handle it?
I know I've asked a lot of questions. Feel free to answer them here or to just share a link to an external blog post that you may have already done that answers any of these questions. Beginning a new school year can be a scary time for those with food allergies. Anything you can add that can help lessen that fear would be much appreciated.
Tags: advocacy, allergies, fear, food allergies, school, stress
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Thanita on -
Thanks for LAN mention! I just want to let you know the link is broken. It has some extra characters that shouldn't be there. To veiw LAN's website, please click here: Loudoun Allergy Network
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Permalink Reply by allergylifeinloudoun on -
Thank you very much Janeen for this mention! I never imagined the reach that our efforts in Loudoun would have on a whole community. I initially followed an online guide to setting up a support group, it was key that we kept a consistent meeting schedule and eventually created a free website to show we were an active group to the school system. We also presented a positive approach to working with the schools and helping them review their food allergy guidelines which were decided on at the Principle level. My personal blog, Allergy Life In Loudoun, was a catalyst but the passage of the new guidelines/expectations for 2010-11 could not have happened without several other dedicated parents and Administrators this past year, who tirelessly attended Board meetings for health and special education. I'm looking forward to continuing my post on my blog about how we approached the Schools here to the beginning of last year where we were invited to participate in their newly formed Food Committee and new for this year, Anti-bullying Committee!
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Permalink Reply by Janeen on -
Thanks for stopping by allergylifeinlourdoun!! The work you and your community has done amazes me (can you come here ?? Just kidding...sort of...). I'm looking forward to all of your updates and seeing HOW you did this. Anything that I can take away to help my son and those that come after us is much appreciated. Thanks for all the work you do! It really does benefit us all.
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Permalink Reply by FoodfactsTV on -
Wow, I just found this site and in turn, found the Loudoun Allergy Network site as well. What great work you all are doing. My sister is severely allergic to all dairy and whey and I know how difficult that can be especially when we were children. 1 in 24 children in America have a food allergy, which is really alarming and something everyone should be more aware of. I host videos on http://tv.foodfacts.com/ about controversial food ingredients, recalls, and sometimes allergy stuff too. Foodfacts.com was designed to help anyone with food allergies because we know things can be hidden in products and it can be really difficult. You can connect with other members (it's free) and you can check off the things you or a family member are allergic to and put them in your avoid list so any product comes up in red, so you know to avoid it. I hope this helps a little bit. I hope more school districts take a cue from Loudoun Allergy Network.
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Permalink Reply by FAFams on
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For those looking into either a new school or sending their kids off to school for the first time it can be difficult finding a school you feel comfortable with handling your child's food allergies. After the agonizing search for my sons preschool I compiled a list of possible questions to ask during interviews with possible schools of interest. You can view them at http://foodallergyfamilies.blogspot.com/2010/08/finding-allergy-awa...
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Permalink Reply by Thanita on
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It is very important to schedule a meeting with the principal and/or vice principal, resource nurse and clinic aid and the teacher create an Individualizes Health Care Plan together. Once the plan is agreed upon, a second meeting should be in place with the original group plus the specials teachers (music, PE, art etc) to discuss the health care plan. Doing so will allow you to answer any questions to all those who will come in contact with your child who probably wouldn't if they were just given the plan and asked to read it on their own. These meetings need to occur well before school starts so that if there are items/accommodations that are not agreed upon, there is enough time to reschedule another meeting before school starts.
This brings me to my next point. You don't have to agree to anything you don't feel is safe for your child. Don't sign if you don't like the plan. I suggest taking your spouse a friend or higher a parent advocate. This way there's a second pair of eyes and ears. Make the extra person in charge of taking notes. If no one is available, bring in a tape recorder and let the school know you are doing so. There are many times where there was verbal agreement on accommodations yet left out of the plan when it was printed. Which brings me to the next very important note, READ EVERYTHING BEFORE SIGNING!
Some topics of conversation could be:
-Allowing equal access for your child because food allergies is a disability according to the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendment Act passed on January 2009. Allowing equal access can mean not having food in the classroom as it can be a potential health risk for your food allergic child. If the environment is not safe, the school is not allowing equal access.
-Do not announce the child's disability. Medical privacy must be upheld.
-Whether or not your child will be seated at a separate allergy-friendly table during lunch or a special sectioned off classroom table.
-Discuss field trip accommodations like no food on the bus/eating on bus unless medically necessary which in this case the school must create a buffer zone. The school can plan to stop somewhere and have the kids eat picnic style etc.
-The school must notify you of field trips well in advance to address any risk of allergen exposure. Discuss where the field trip will take place, how far from a hospital and if there's cell phone reception in case of an emergency.
-A food allergy parent should always be allowed to go on field trips without being a chaperoned. This allows you to focus on your child's medical needs without worrying about other children, if your child in fact has a reaction. If you are made responsible for 4 other children, how will you care for all of them and your child's medical emergency?
OK that's just a start. Field trips are always a toughy. I didn't realize how much I had typed! Sorry for hijacking your post Janeen! I have more but my fingers are tired! Hope this helps someone :)
Thanita -
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Permalink Reply by AllergicChild on -
In the spring of 2007, I participated in a Food Allergy Task Force for our school district - Academy School District 20 in Colorado Springs, CO - along with 15 other parents, district administrators, principals, district school nurse and others to create guidelines for our school district’s severely food allergic children. This task force came about because so many parents were attempting to teach their individual school about food allergies and felt they were reinventing the wheel at each school. Some schools in the district had experience, while others had none. We wanted to create a standard set of guidelines and procedures for all schools in the district to follow so that a food allergic child enjoys awareness of food allergies and prevention of allergic reactions regardless of which school he/she attended. It was a tall order!
The guidelines are here.
These guidelines have been wonderful for all 22,000+ students in our school district, and gives each school a basis of understanding and awareness about food allergies.
My suggestion is to get a task force together within your school district and create guidelines!
Nicole Smith
Allergicchild.com -
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