I've read some of the 504 posts- but have a basic question. Once you prepare a 504 is it then a battle between you and the school district as to what gets done/accomadated.
DD should be starting 1/2 day Kindergarten in Fall 2008- I started checking on the public school she would go to - nurse splits time between two schools, epi's kept in nurse's office- kindergarten class is not nut-free (they bring a snack since half day)---I don't have a lot of details but this is the start. I've already asked more questions- like can the teachers administer the epi since the nurse isn't always there. Then once they go to first grade PB is served one day a week in the cafeteria. Needless to say I'm not thrilled. The school sounds very un-allergy aware- and the nurse said they have several students who are nut allergic.
You should start with getting a 504 designation based on the food allergy. It is important to get all your information in order before you go to the school. You will need well worded letters from your child's Dr's ect.
Once you have the designation then ask for what accommidations are good for YOUR child. It doest matter what everyone else does, these accomidations are for your child.
Get started now, in my expereince schools like to put you off as often as possible.
It seems there are quite a few of us who have children off to kindergarten in Sept. I think the first hurdle, and I'm still working on this myself, is to get the school 504 coordinator to consider your child ELIGIBLE for a 504. Then, as I understand it, it is a negoitiation of sorts as to accomodations.
Make sure that you are also prepared if your school doesn't keep kindergarten at half-day for 2008. Our previous school district moved to full day kindergarten within one year of the option being publicly discussed.
Another issue to keep in the back of your mind, as if you didn't have enough already [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img]
Good Luck!
Thanks for all the help/suggestions. Oh I dread trying to get the doctor's letter- when I tried to get a letter when we were traveling (to have epi's/food) with us at amusement park- they only wanted to do a standard form letter they already had...and it was for flying with epi's - I took it anyway. Oh well..there is a new allergist there we are seeing for the second time maybe she will be of more help!
GONE
[This message has been edited by NicoleinNH (edited June 09, 2007).]
Quote:Originally posted by PennMom:
[b]Thanks for all the help/suggestions. Oh I dread trying to get the doctor's letter- when I tried to get a letter when we were traveling (to have epi's/food) with us at amusement park- they only wanted to do a standard form letter they already had...and it was for flying with epi's - I took it anyway. Oh well..there is a new allergist there we are seeing for the second time maybe she will be of more help! [/b]
I copied a letter from this site, filled it in with the doc's name, my son's name etc...and just had him reprint it on letter head and sign it. He did no questions asked!!! Might be easier then him drafting up something that wouldn't even help anyways. Just an idea!
I did a search under doctors letters and read everything and copied the perfect one!
------------------
Chanda(mother of 4)
Sidney-8 (beef and chocolate, grasses, molds, weeds, guinea pig & asthma)
Jake-6 (peanut, all tree nuts, eggs, trees, grasses, weeds, molds, cats, dogs, guinea pig & eczema & asthma)
Carson-3 1/2 (milk, soy, egg, beef and pork, cats, dog, guinea pig and EE)
Savannah-1 (milk and egg)
Last year my experience with the allergist was very positive. All I had to do was call her office and said I needed a letter stating Ryan has PA and the school needed it. That was it. It was in my mailbox within a few days. I would say if an allergist is not willing to help you with the school system, find a new allergist.
Then the principal and I had at least 4 meetings before we got everything outlined for Ryan's first day of school. I met with the principal, nurse, and his teacher. The principal picked out the teacher he thought would deal best with Ryan's allergy. I used an outline of a 504 I got from this website and just filled in the blanks. The principal was very impressed and went with what I had. We added a few things, but it was all good from the start.
Our principal is actually in charge of the 504's for the district, so this was a tremendous plus. He really never had to deal with a peanut allergy specific one, but was very willing to add in what I needed.
Anyway, I got my son's room peanut free. It had a sign on the door stating this. The parents had to follow a snack list I made for them that the teacher handed out. Everyone washed their hands when they got to school. He has an epi pen in the nurses office and he wears an epi belt. We have a part time nurse and a full time nurse, so we are covered any time of the day, thank goodness.
I had to have several meetings to get what I wanted. I copied articles from here about peanut allergy deaths, brought in food labels so they could see what to look for, if there was to be a project with food in the classroom his teacher had to e-mail me to check if the ingredients were safe. Most of the time she would send me the label of the item just to make sure.
E-mail is the best tool. Ryan's teacher e-mailed me all the time, which was great. I think it made her more relaxed too. I do child care in my home, so I looked at my e-mail often.
I would say not to make it a secret from the parents or kids either. On Ryan's first day of school he stood up in front of the class, with his teacher's help, and explained that he had a peanut allergy and what could happen to him. The teacher also told the kids they had to look out for him in case he started to have a reaction and to let her know if this happens in case Ryan could not speak.
The teacher also made a rule that Ryan could interupt her at any time, without raising his hand, if he was not feeling well in any way. This was a very positive thing for Ryan. She also sent out letters before and while school was going on about his allergy.
Anyway, I hope you get things worked out and if I can help in any way, let me know.
Jan
The doctors orders are key.....without it you are sunk so find a new one if you have to.
Thanks so much for all the help, I haven't approached the new allergist (before only dealt with Nurse practitioner) for a letter- so hopefully that will go well. I did notice the letter that the NP provided was actually for school---it stated that DD had a nut allergy- what the signs of anaphylaxis are and that she would need the epi pen jr available and "use as needed". It's just not very clear as to the fact that someone else will need to use it (not her at 5 yrs old)...and doesn't detail her reaction symptom/history. I will talk to the allergist at our appt in a few weeks...believe me if they aren't willing to help with the letter I WILL find one who does! Thanks for all the good information!
Here is the outline I used last year. Things have been changed a bit, but this was the origional form we used.
Section 504 Individual Accommodation Plan
I. NAME: RYAN
D.O.B.:
STUDENT ID#
II. SCHOOL:
GRADE: KINDERGARTEN
III. DETERMINATION AS INDIVIDUAL
WITH A DISABILITY:
a) Physical or Mental Impairment:
Food Allergy (peanuts, tree nuts,
sunflower seeds)
b) Substantially Limiting a Major Life
Activity: Student experiences
anaphylactic shock when in contact with
peanut oil, peanut by-products,
sunflower products or tree nut products.
IV. SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION:
a) Parent Input:
Parent reports history of food allergy to
peanuts. Child must be administered an
injection of epinephrine when in contact
with peanuts, tree nuts or sunflower
seeds.
b) Teacher(s) Input/Observations:
Student is new to the school system and
has not been observed in a classroom or
school setting.
c) Educational Evaluation:
Student does not exhibit difficulty
learning, and an educational evaluation
has not been performed.
d) Medical Evaluation:
The parents have provided a letter from
the child
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