I have lived in two states with my family and one of our family members is a child with life threatening food allergies. Managing our child's food allergies is a process that continues every day of the week. Out of our fear and determination to keep our child healthy, safe, happy, and included we have taken much action with other parents of like kinds to ensure that schools, restaurants, and other facilities are safer.
Of the two states that we have lived, Maryland and Colorado, both of these states have legislation that pertains to the management of food allergies. In each of these states legislators passed bills that could use more definition of what food allergy management really requires in the public school rather than focus only on the handling, storage, and administration of medication. The state of Maryland has taken the step to create anaphylaxis guidelines through their Departments of Education and Health and Mental Hygiene. These guidelines include communication and prevention to avoid illness or fatality in all school related settings (classroom, lunchroom, bus transportation, and field trips). The state of Colorado falls short here. I have learned from listening to other families that the issues that some legislators, administrators, and board members fail to realize are that safe storage and administration of medication is a crises solution. A necessary requirement but only one aspect of food allergy management. Prevention is the means to avoiding costly and potentially fatal consequences. Some of the school administrators even fail to realize this is a health issue. Still, in both states and probably 48 others, parents are fighting to convince school administrators, principals, and teachers to keep their children safe.
Is failing to provide children with food allergies a safe school environment ignoring U.S. federal laws? Children with food allergies can receive special services under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA), and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). ADAAA is an update from the American's with Disabilities Act. If a student has one major life limitation, including eating, then that student is considered to have a disability. Under the jurisdiction of section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 if a public school cannot accommodate a child with food allergies the parents may request a '504' meeting to develop a plan of action to support the safety and well being of the child at school. The 504 Student Accommodation Plan will describe the services and accommodations needed to allow a fair and equal education to the student. . The overall plan is supposed to state what is the least restrictive environment and any special services needed. It should also detail where, when, and how often the services should be performed. If the 504 plan requirements are not met then the parent can lodge a complain with the office of civil rights. There are more than two dozen children with food allergies in my son's school. Would it save money and prevent allergic reactions to have a 504 plan and teachers supervising all of the children in the school with food allergies or cost less overall to educate the entire school staff to provide a safe environment?
While still perched on my soap box my point is that this subject will be discussed and argued until every decision maker at every U.S. public school district understands that change is necessary. It is necessary to keep students with food allergies healthy and able to feel comfort not fear while trying to get an education. The choice some district officials make is siding with the families who want the convenience of packing a peanut butter and jelly sandwich without much thought on how to solve the problem to make it fair and safe for everyone. Small, easily adaptable changes and proper food allergy education are all that are required to create a healthy atmosphere for these children, who total over 3 million nationwide under the age of 18 according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC). Why create an atmosphere where millions of families have to make their school comply through the 504 plan when easily adaptable changes can be made. Is it because these children are not a majority or are expendable? Let us hope not.
Lawmakers and school officials are happy to make the effort to create a 'greener' environment and now, with the help of the first lady, Michelle Obama, they have finally opened their eyes to providing and serving healthier school lunches. In schools across the nation there is no tolerance (or so they say but that is another subject to discuss) for any child carrying weapons and taking drugs. Why in the world are these people not open minded about preventing a life threatening food allergy reaction? It is not for lack of materials and educators available to make this change work for each and every school across the nation.
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Good points Julie and well done. My child has a 504 accomidation plan and I can't imagine what it cost the county to have all those people at the meeting. Well, they are on 'payroll', but I'm sure they had better things to be doing.
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