Gail -- first I want to apologize for taking this off track with a bit of levity. I just sensed that gvmom was hanging on to the end of the rope by just one paw (picturing the poster from the 70's with the cute kitty hanging on to knot at end of rope).
Quote:Originally posted by Gail W:
[b]But nonetheless, classroom parties are school events. Children with FAs require safe food to access and participate in such school functions. Why is it the responsibility of the *parent* to provide a safe substitution so that their child will not be excluded? [/b]
IMPHO, it has become the parent's "responsiblity" because we took that onto ourselves, voluntarily. Because many schools have been allowed an easy way out of their "inclusiveness predicament" by the parents who have been [i] accomodating the school [/i] by providing the safe treats.
Want to insert here, that I bear that responsibility myself and am NOT FAULTING any of us who have done this & may still do this as a means of keeping child totally safe. It's just that we've let the schools off the HOOK!
Quote: [b]
Do schools exclude children with other disabilites unless the parent provides a substitute 'something' that allows their child to participate? KWIM?[/b]
I daresay not nearly as often or [i] blatantly [/i]. Because, afterall, we are "just" talking about a "food allergy" -- a condition NOT taken seriously or even understood by most non-FA folks.
Just a little story to share:
The other day, in a very quiet, nice conversation I was having with another classroom mom -- I used the example of having a "class celebration" for my son's class where they go ice skating -- a VERY special event for these southerners, in the kids' minds anyway -- and asked the mother I was speaking with how little "Mary Beth" might feel if the only way she was accomodated as far as being "INcluded" was to sit next to the rink and count the other kids' laps. "Mary Beth" is currently wheel chair bound. (She may be back on both feet in months to come.) This mother I was talking to (not "Mary Beth's mother, but another classroom mom) looked at me with this WOW look, teared up, and thanked me. Profusely.
~Elizabeth
[This message has been edited by ajas_folks (edited August 16, 2007).]

Quote:Originally posted by gvmom:
[b]Again, musings. Wouldn't it be worth changing our language to start referring to birthday foods and party foods, PTA junk too, as "Competitive Foods"? And I don't mean just here. Get people used to hearing it. Using it.
The key sentence for me in that document is,"School food authorities and State agencies may impose additional restrictions on competitive foods in schools."
Help me with the theorem.... okay.....
If we as parents start using "Competitive Foods" to describe the food that needs restrictions.... which invariably gets rebutted with a "we can't restrict a parent's right to .... (I'd insert 'be an idiot' if I could, but....), couldn't we introduce the USDA's definition? They provide the label. They provide the definition. They provide the allowance for additional restrictions.
Viable rebuttal to not placing limitations? Might be, it seems to me.
More documents to read though.... but that is just what came to mind right now.[/b]
YES YES YES!!
~Eliz

Was that cat white or orange? I think I had that poster. [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/wink.gif[/img]

I LOVE...LOVE...LOVE...the term "competitive foods". I will have to add that one to my "terms to use during schools meetings" file.
I can imagine..."I'm sorry I just don't see how Sally's mom sees it necessary to bring a 'competitive food' for the birthday party. I wonder how the USDA would view all these cupcakes at school on such a regular basis."
Thankfully last year my ds's teacher was wonderful and thought birthdays, in general, were over done and she followed the wellness policy. Remains to be seen what the teacher this year will do.
[This message has been edited by notnutty (edited August 16, 2007).]

Quote:Originally posted by gvmom:
[b]LILPIG! FAB!!! Printing now... gonna go read as I think up titles to our production.
"The Rise and Fall of the Cupcake Queens"
"Civilization and Its Food Allergic Malcontents"
"For Whom the USDA Tolls...."
"Gone with the Cupcake"
"If There Be Cupcakes..."
"Forever Food Free"
...just off the top of my head... with help from my bookshelves.....and I'm so punchy, I think I could add a ton more. I really am a barrel of laughs......[/b]
"The Cupcakes of Wrath"?
Amy

[b]IMPHO, it has become the parent's "responsiblity" because we took that onto ourselves, voluntarily.[/b]
Yep, Elizabeth, you are very much correct, we have allowed it, and many of us will continue to follow this path in the interest of keeping our children alive at school. Certainly, we'll do it until we don't [i]have[/i] to any longer....when the law is on our side there will be no mistake about it. We can be the impetus, I believe.
Your story gave me goosebumps Eliz. How smart of you, and deeply thoughtful.
[b]"School food authorities and State agencies may impose additional restrictions on competitive foods in schools."[/b]
Is the USDA up to task here?? My goodness, I would love to pose this to the regional director for Civil rights (USDA FNS). I have wanted to update her on my case, since her responses to me were very key to our situation. She and I attended the same college---nearly different eras, but...we've got repoire (sp?) dare I say. I would love to ask the most perfectly formed question of her...something for her to chew on , something to CC up the chain of command so to speak. It would have to be worded in such a way as to completely connect the dots, draw the reasonable and obvious conclusions. Something including my new mantra 'competitive foods'. [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/biggrin.gif[/img]
I have been all over that USDA site for the past 8 months or so. The article I posted was honest to goodness the very first one I saw for the parameters I searched for. Give me a little more time and I bet I can bring you more.
Gotta bathe the kiddos. You guys are great.
See you later...
[This message has been edited by lilpig99 (edited August 16, 2007).]
[This message has been edited by lilpig99 (edited August 16, 2007).]

Quote: Originally posted by gvmom: [b]
"The Rise and Fall of the Cupcake Queens"
"Civilization and Its Food Allergic Malcontents"
"For Whom the USDA Tolls...."
"Gone with the Cupcake"
"If There Be Cupcakes..."
"Forever Food Free"
[/b]
AND
Quote:Originally posted by Going Nuts:
[b] "The Cupcakes of Wrath"?
Amy
[/b]
I SOOOO needed that laugh. [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/biggrin.gif[/img]
~Eliz

[b]"The Hand That Frosts the Cupcake"[/b]