Hate to be the bearer of bad news here, but in the school setting, if your child needs the protections and accomodations of a 504, [i] you need to stop saying "he isn't disabled."[/i]
504 plans are not written for anyone who isn't. Period. On the flip side, if he hasn't got a "disability" then why do you need a 504?
(This may explain some of the apparent confusion you observed.)

i was thinking along the lines of wheel chairs or something like that .. i guess i just dont want to think of a peanut allergy as a disabality. johns just a regular kid who cant be around peanuts. is that a disabality?
the lady kept asking me what kind of services i needed . i just want a peanut free class room. ya know.

Your child does have a disability...a hidden disability.
[url="http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/hq5269.html"]http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/hq5269.html[/url]
"Hidden disabilities are physical or mental impairments that are not readily apparent to others. They include such conditions and diseases as specific learning disabilities, diabetes, epilepsy, and allergy."
[This message has been edited by Ohio (edited October 05, 2006).]

But my point is that, under the law, the ONLY reason to write a 504 plan is [i]to accommodate a disability.[/i] Please think about this-- your reluctance is a weakness that may be unpleasantly exploited by an uncooperative school/district.
I am quite certain (as we know several other families with special kids) that there are few IF ANY parents who like the label "disabled." That isn't how any of us see our children. But if your child is [i] not able to participate to the same extent as his unaffected peers without a system of accommodations[/i] then it [i]is[/i] a disability. It is just a label-- one that only defines a person if they choose for it to.
Can you live with the label to get what your son needs? If you can't stand it at all, you might be better off looking for informal accommodations instead.
(And I mean that sincerely-- no 'tone' intended. This is a big mental block for many of us.)

And,
[b]
the lady kept asking me what kind of services i needed [/b]
Hold it right there! Was this a discussion of (gasp!) ACCOMMODATIONS?? Prior to the establishment of eligibility?? SHAME. SHAME.
Seriously-- invest some time in understanding the order in which things must happen here and make them stick with it. They can't talk about accommodations before elgibility. There might be some later question of denial of eligibility on the basis of "inconvenient" necessary accommodations. KWIM? Not good if OCR should hear of it. Also inadvisable for YOU to discuss accommodations prior to eligibility in case they decide it will be pretty inconvenient to try to do [i]that[/i]. Remember that. [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img]
I also wouldn't assume that having never written a 504 for a FA is necessarily BAD... just inexperience. So she didn't say "No"-- you were just told "I haven't done that before." I was told this as well. But it didn't stop me for a minute. Other people's kids might not need one. Mine does.

as i was walking back from taking my daughter to school today i started thinking about what i wrote yesterday about not wanting to lable my son or not thinking that he is disabled, and the fact of the matter is i cant take him past the lunch room in kristins kindergarden because he starts to get puffy. i think they must make all the pbj sandwiches at that time because by the time we get home hes fine . no benadryll needed. i guess he is disabled. im not used to thinking about it in that kind of light.
so i apoligize of offending anyone last night. i am truley sorry. no offence intended.
the person who keped asking what type of services i needed or was requesting was from the health department. i think she thought i was requesting a cpse screening.
so i will call the school back today and find out the stuff i need to do because i do beleive this is the best for my son. and after a good night sleep and a walk in the brisk morning air i guess i do think that my son is disabled. its just a part of life and a lable im not used to.
thanks for not ripping me a new one last night! [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/biggrin.gif[/img]
erin

I don't think anyone was offended. This is a learning process for all of us...we are just a few steps ahead of your situation.
Two or three years ago I had no idea what a "peanut allergy" really meant, and we had no idea what a 504 plan was and why my child would need one.
It's been a crash course, but definitely worth it. You may want to inquire who the 504 coordinator is in your district and start a dialog with him/her.

No problem, smudgesgarden. [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img]
As Ohio points out, we've just had more time to see how big everyday adjustments really are (relative to peers) as our kids get older. And to understand what the label means-- and [i]what it doesn't.[/i]
I have trouble using the "D" word myself. I prefer "medically fragile," as I think this is more appropriate anyway for someone who thinks that "allergies" are no big deal. Medically fragile tells people that my daughter could be dead from carelessness, adn it gets their attention in a way that "allergy" does not.
I just didn't want the school to use your words against you... or (like animals) smell your fear. [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/wink.gif[/img]

Smudgesgarden,
You may find this information helpful:
Under section 504, Subpart A, part 104.3, part l2:
(that

thanks for the info
again [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/biggrin.gif[/img]
ill try to rember to THINK before i speak. and that this is a hidden disabilaty. just because hes not in a wheel chair or blind or something like that he is still disabaled.
i was glancing through the thread by gailw and what struck me was, this wont make him stand out as a "weird" kid this will normalize his school career and will protect him in the future.
rosemary
thanks for the link.
im pretty sure he will qualify for a 504 next year at the school. this pre school is through the school district. its not free for everyone. its a "lottery" of sorts on who gets it free, first come first served. there is some kids who need to pay, but ive gotten him on the list allready so ill proably not need to pay. but the school is federaly funded. like most public schools.
(does that make sense?)
we will see.
ps: you guys were up very late last night. i was in bed by 9:30 i was checking the times on your posts. i dont even remember the last time i was up past 2 am.!
thanks again
erin