Hello everyone! I am Sarah, I am new here. My son has a TNA, he is 6 and going into first grade. We never really had any issues before, as his preschool was made completely nut free, and in kindergarten last year there was no lunch or snacks.
But this year is different, as he will have a snack in the classroom and head to the cafeteria for lunch.
I guess I don't know what all he should be getting at the school. He does not have an IHP, or a 504. He has an IEP for other isseus, completely non-allergy related, and to be honest, I'm so so very tired of fighting with the school about these, that the allergy thing has become pushed to the back.
But today he was all set to have the grilled cheese and goldfish for lunch today, but the nurse called me and told me that I had to pack a lunch because they don't know what the cafeteria serves regarding nuts. So I went in to talk to the kitchen manager, and she basically has NO idea about TNA's, nor did she seem to want to learn or deal with it alltogether. She said it would just be easier if I packed his lunch everyday. And while I do know that is true, shouldn't there be some kind of accomodations they can make so he CAN take a hot lunch if he wants? Also the teacher is giving him one seat in the cafeteria to sit at every day so she can keep an eye on him. Is that right? Apparantely there are only a couple of kids with allergies, no others in the school with PAs or TNAs.
Help a newbie. I know I need to do some things NOW, but I guess I don't know where to start. Thank you!
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Sarah
double post
[This message has been edited by lilpig99 (edited September 04, 2007).]
Hi Sarah and welcome!
I can say that if the hot lunch is the USDA's National School Hot Lunch Program (and I'm sure it is if your school is public), then the school MUST make a safe lunch for your child, they MUST read labels and go to great lengths to assure that it is completely safe....your child should be designated disabled and in need of dietary accomodation...you do this through a 504. You need to first ask for a 504 evaluation, attend the evalution meeting/process, achieve the 504 designation and then work on accomodations for your son that are needed to keep him safe as he attends school daily. Part of his day is the lunch hour.
I would first suggest reading and getting up to speed on Section 504. The US Dept of ED has a couple of guidance documents designed to help you understand 504 and also how severe food allergy is considered a hidden disability. Then look over the USDA's Accomodating Children with Special Dietary Needs. Even the USDA understands how severe food allergy is worthy of 504 and how children who have it, must be offered accomodations. Within the USDA pamphlet are forms that the school food authority should follow once they are filled out by your allergist/doctor.
[url="http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/504faq.html"]http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/504faq.html[/url]
[url="http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/hq5269.html"]http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/hq5269.html[/url]
[url="http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/Guidance/special_dietary_needs.pdf"]http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/Guidance/special_dietary_needs.pdf[/url]
If they deny your child a safe lunch...that is discrimination. Let me say that again: if they deny your child a safe lunch due to his disability, then they are discriminating against a child who requires a safe lunch in order to have full and safe access to the educational environment as his non-disabled peers do. They may not *want* to do it, but they must. Period. Don't let them tell you they don't have time to keep your child safe. Your tax dollars ought not to support the school excluding your child from participating in the lunch program. That is why all schools participating the USDA's National Hot Lunch Program must post their anti-discrimination poster...check it out:
[url="http://www.isbe.net/nutrition/pdf/justice_poster.pdf"]http://www.isbe.net/nutrition/pdf/justice_poster.pdf[/url]
I'm sorry you are struggling just to keep your child safe. My picky TNA first grader will only want to eat a couple of times a month. The school doesn't seem to have obvious tree nuts on the menu, but there certainly might be 'may contains'. For my situation, I struggled with allowing other people to feed my child, it scared me, so I will be helping read labels and most likely attend on days when she does eat the schools lunch. It's tough no matter what you do. HUGS!!!!
edited to add links and to edit my statements on letting others feed my child...some may not struggle with that aspect, but I have/do. [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img]
[This message has been edited by lilpig99 (edited September 04, 2007).]
My child also sits at the end of the table where the teacher can see her. I guess your feelings should rule on whether or not you approve of this. Some see it as 'this is good, the teacher will always know where my child is, if she needs help, the teacher can keep an eye on her'. Others may see it as 'they don't let my child sit where she wants to'. I would say that the school cannot *make* your child sit somewhere. It should be up to you.
[This message has been edited by lilpig99 (edited September 04, 2007).]
Your path forward may be simpler than that, actually-- since you already have an IEP in place, it might be possible to simply (or not so simply.... ) add an IHCP/IHP as an additional part of it, with the understanding that your child is qualified as OHI (Other Health Impairment).
This way, your child's accommodations are in one place, which may be less confusing over all for everyone involved. Wouldn't hurt to call your Special Ed coordinator and have a talk about that.
But yes, they MUST provide your child with an 'equivalent' lunch. Under the law. (Whether you are comfortable with someone else providing food for your child is irrelevant.)
[img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img]
My son last year ate just about everything served on the hot lunch menu...this year, he is limited to pizza and yogurt(because of new allergies). I honestly thought about persuing this, but I just don't think what they could come up with would be eaten by my picky child, so it's not worth the fight(for us). They serve pizza and yogurt 2 days a week, and he'll bring a lunch the other 3(I'm going to check on nachos thought tomorrow, he asked if I would see if they are okay)....so I think it will work for us....good luck if you choose to go that route, you got some great info posted in the above links, your child is entitled if you desire the school to offer him something safe!!!
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Chanda(mother of 4)
Sidney-8 1/2(beef and chocolate, grasses, molds, weeds, guinea pig, hamster & asthma)
Jake-6 1/2(peanut, all tree nuts, all seeds(sesame, sunflower, poppy, pine nut) beef, chicken, eggs, coconut, green beans/all beans, trees, grasses, weeds, molds, cats, dogs, guinea pig & eczema & asthma)
Carson-4 (peanut, tree nuts, milk, soy, egg, beef and pork, cats, dog, guinea pig, hamster, grass, mold, dust mite and EE)
Savannah-1 1/2 (milk, beef and egg, dog(avoiding peanuts, tree nuts, strawberries, seeds, legumes and corn)
My daughter has a peanut allergy and I am concerned with her eating school lunch because they serve pbj sandwiches a couple of times a week. But on the days that they don't serve it, I wonder if the risk of cross contaimination is very slim or "slim to none." I just not sure on the subject. She has a 504 plan and it does state in it that the cafeteria is required to make sure her meal is safe, but there is always a chance of cross contaimination.
This kind of thing is devastating to hear about. Ignorance...Yes, it may be easier to push aside the needs of an everyday child, who most likely wants nothing more than to be normal. So, I don't understand why it's so much easier to pack a lunch than to read a label. I think there are laws about this and you should definately look into them. For the time being, I suggest requesting a 504...
I am so angry when I read all these posts. I can see the fight coming. My school is one that seperates. The kids with allergies have to sit at an assigned table- most of the time alone. Different grades and genders so don't talk to each other much.
My son will not do this.. He is going to sit with his friends and class. I just started a petition on an activists site to ask for support and everyone to contact the department of education to take peanut butter out of the schools. It is like a weapon. My son would take one touch and severely hurt or die. Hoping to change the system a little.. Make it safe for him to be included...
I will be the one with the 504 prior to kindergarten.
I have also just scheduled a face to face with our local park board. I am asking them for a food free park. One out of the many local parks that is clearly marked to be food free and thus maybe safe for my son to play at. They provide two parks for those in wheelchairs. They provide one park with special equipment for the blind child that lives in that neighborhood. I am going to ask for a clean park for my son.
The truth is that there is always a risk of cross contamination. My suggestion would be for you to make her lunch on the days that pb&j are served. Why take the chance and risk an incident?
On the other side, two of my daughters have food allergies, and as long as the school and school nurse are aware of your child's allergy, they stay on top of that really well. The last thing a school wants is for a child to suffer in such a way.
Children like ours, with these allergies, do have special needs when it comes to lunch. My very young daughters 9 and 7 years old know how very important it is to be careful about cross contamination. And because they are so young, they might not always be able to identify what they are eating, so they need to be monitored during lunchtime too. If that means that they have to sit at at different table, then so be it. I would rather know that they are safe and being supervised then risk a severe reaction.
Children a tough and very resilient. Properly educated, they understand that they are special, when it comes to what they can and cannot eat.
We as parents need to be sure that they realize they are not being punished by sitting at another table, but being protected. And how long do they really sit there??? 10 - 15 minutes go by, and then they are back with their friends playing.
Encourage your child(ren) to talk to their friends and other class mates about their allergy. They can educate the other children about allergies. It has to start somewhere. Regardless of whether or not the school bans peanut butter, will not decrease the need to get the awareness out there.