Hey Cindy,
I still feel that you should go ahead with the OHRC complaint. This school, and by extension, the whole inept School Board, are not GETTING IT! They are making minute concessions to your requests but are still missing the point: residue = anaphylaxis. And by the way, the teachers always check lunches/snacks here at Wade's Ontario school.
The school yard issues need to be addressed, no food in the school yard period and proper supervision. At Wade's school the teachers are "required" to spend time performing yard duty, I beleive it is even in their contract.
As far as the IEP...you go girl! The fact is that Jesse has a non evident disability under the Act and they would have a difficult time proving undue hardship...what a joke! Don't let these people make you feel like you are demanding, tell them that they would do no less to protect their child.
Have you contacted Dave Levac's office? (MPP for Brant who put forward a private members bill "Anaphylactic Students Protection Act"). Also, considering it is election time here in Ontario, I suggest that we all contact the candidates in our respective ridings and ask them what they (their party) would be prepared to do to protect anaphylactic students in Ontario Schools, I've already done it here and I'm waiting for answers.
Take care,
Katiee

Quote:Originally posted by katiee:
[b]They are making minute concessions to your requests but are still missing the point: residue = anaphylaxis. [/b]
or "potential anaphylaxis"? Depending on how one manages the same?
Still wondering if "reasonable accomodation" necessarily = "safe environment"? relatively safe even?
Still wondering if (reasonableness aside), "safe" environment (or "relatively safe" environment) is achievable in certain situations.

Quote:Originally posted by MommaBear:
[b] or "potential anaphylaxis"? Depending on how one manages the same?
Still wondering if "reasonable accomodation" necessarily = "safe environment"? relatively safe even?
Still wondering if (reasonableness aside), "safe" environment (or "relatively safe" environment) is achievable in certain situations.
[/b]
Mommabear, Im sitting here wondering the same thing myself. We have a great plan, a great aide (my neighbor), they made all the classes peanut free instead of just his, wash hands, removed peanut prod. from the breakfast program, etc. Only time its there is in lunch.
Everything is in place, and I should feel great. Instead Im still sitting here with a knot in my stomach all day, waiting for the phone because we all know, everyone is human, accidents happen and are not 100% preventable.
Really questioning right now if its worth it. You may be on the right track with homeschooling even if it wasnt by choice at first. I guess all the precautions in the world cant make you feel safe.

Quote:Originally posted by momma2boys:
[b] Mommabear, Im sitting here wondering the same thing myself. We have a great plan, a great aide (my neighbor), they made all the classes peanut free instead of just his, wash hands, removed peanut prod. from the breakfast program, etc. Only time its there is in lunch.
Everything is in place, and I should feel great. Instead Im still sitting here with a knot in my stomach all day, waiting for the phone because we all know, everyone is human, accidents happen and are not 100% preventable.
Really questioning right now if its worth it. You may be on the right track with homeschooling even if it wasnt by choice at first. I guess all the precautions in the world cant make you feel safe.[/b]
[i]twin.[/i]
Side note: I also understand the idea of relative risk, and the fact that when one steps outside the front door (or not) stuff happens. I just want to be able to make [i]informed decisions[/i] (informed consent?) in such Risk/Benefit evals.
Your comments were much appreciated and certainly hit home with me. [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img]

Cindy, I hope everything worked out ok for your kids yesterday at their first day of school.
Mommabear, are you still working on getting your kids in school or sticking with homeschooling for now?

Quote:Originally posted by momma2boys:
[b]Mommabear, are you still working on getting your kids in school or sticking with homeschooling for now?[/b]
That nagging sense of injustice is ever-present. But, *Personally*, I have yet to find a system (public or private) that demonstrates the resources (encompasing term- knowledge, finances, PPP, SoC, Full-Time Nurse) to manage PA/NUTS.[i]Let alone Asthma, and some other considerations.[/i] So "injustice" is a relative term.
[b]This in Light of Knowing What I Know.[/b]
Of course, my access to public schools is limited by my address.
We have made a [b]command decision[/b] regarding our younger child. He has happened upon a brief, yet somewhat unique situation, (currently, but possibly not to be so unique in the near future, unfortunately).
No Asthma, possibly RAD, not diagnosed, has PA, some other needs, food allergies. But, he is in a class with the same 3 professionaly licensed teachers he had last year. A self contained classroom. [b]A classroom nearly half of the students having PA.[/b] Well, 4 out of 10. [i]Everything[/i] needed for the "school day" (2.5 hours) is in the classroom. Letters have been sent out. The Parents are Wonderful. All snacks are recommended to be from an approved list, and provided from parent to the parent's individual child. (Aside from containers of Milk). The school in question is the office for the District Nurse. It is 2 and 1/2 hours long. Certain changes have taken place since last year. (If due to the sheer number of PA students, I don't know, but can wonder.)I haven't listed them all, just a general pic.
Unfortunately, this is the Age 3-4 Early Childhood intervention program and not the [i]regular school[/i] my children would attend past kindergarten.
It would be the school where a staff member strongly suggested I "homeschool". It would also be the school where we had a rather disturbing time trying to develop a 504 that addressed our [b]older son's needs[/b] (PA/NUTS) being one of them. It was unsuccessful. He!!, it was [b]traumatizing[/b].
I also have concerns regarding kindergarten since I am not sure it will not be so "self-contained", and am not sure some of the changes I see in [i]this[/i] classroom will extend into kindergarten and the primary grades.
*Personally*? For us, my husband and I, knowing what we know, certain changes in the near future, possibly nothing short of a miracle will have to take place within the system for *us* to send *our children* into an outside "traditional" school setting. Possibly not so traditional by then.
*Personally*? And with regard to *my own individual, personal, and highly unique situation?? .............
The Standard of a [i]Full Time Nurses[/i] being *one* of them.
*Personally?*
I'll take a sense of injustice over the feeling of imminent-death hovering over my child any day.
Disclaimer: I am not offering advice in any manner or form. Just stating what we, my family, find *personally necessary* in our own *unique, highly individual, and personal situation*.

I am surprised that the School Board doesn't have a policy on asthma and that he didn't want to policy people to death. Most school boards WANT policies in place so that each school is following the same procedure!!
Hope all went well with your children on the first day of school today!!

Cindy, I hope and pray that things go well for Jesse, Ember, and [b]you[/b] with this new school. I especially hope that you will have a warm and caring relationship with Jesse's teacher. You all deserve that this year! I am so sorry to hear that you were struck down by such a vicious migraine at such a crucial time for your family.
Love, {{{hugs}}}, and best wishes [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img]
Miriam

Cindy,
what did your children think of their new school?
Are there any classmates living close to you?

Cindy - how are things going with the school now?