Section 504 Plans:
Does Your Food Allergic Child Need One?

By Nadine O’ Reilly

Disabilities of all kinds affect our lives in the deepest of ways, particularly if it is our children who are afflicted with life-threatening conditions of any nature. What many fail to believe is that food allergies, environmental allergies, and allergies to substances such as latex and alcohol are disabling conditions that affect the way children access the world.

As a school psychologist, I know firsthand how difficult it is for parents to get what they need out of the ’system.’ For over 30 years, professionals such as myself have been advocating for children with special needs of all types, including those with asthma and food allergies.

If you know your child needs services, then you need a 504 Plan. Furthermore, if your child has another disability in addition to their chronic health conditions, you need an Individualized Education Program (IEP - IDEA) and an Individualized Accommodation Plan (IAP - Section 504). Each program is similar in terms of legal protections for your child, but differ in that IEP is an IDEA term, and IAP is a 504/ADA term.

School personnel will often tell you that there is nothing they can do other than note your child’s condition and keep an eye on them. This is untrue.

Unfortunately, many schools are ill-equipped to handle children with ‘hidden’ disabilities. I’ve found that school personnel will often bank on the possibility that you’ll never know about programs that are actually your child’s legal right. Of course, I’m generalizing here; I’ve worked with outstanding Child Study Team members who virtually took in children as their own.

The truth is, according to federal law, your child is entitled to legally-binding protection - if the complications arising from your child’s condition are such that they impede their ability to participate fully in class activities.

School teachers, psychologists, social workers, principals, and nurses are enlisted to not only work with your child - but to REALLY take care of them. Teachers will be flexible with timelines for assignments; nurses will monitor your child daily and train school personnel on your child’s condition/treatment/symptoms, etc.

Now, don’t get me wrong. You cannot and should not ask for the world of your school personnel. Why? Because even though your child is your main concern, there is a line to be drawn. But your child’s 504 Plan ensures that your child will not get lost in the mix.

What is a 504 Plan and how does it protect our children?

Did you know that under Section 504 your child may be entitled to the following accommodations, based on their food allergies?

-Their own water cooler
-Preapproved foods for classroom parties
-Non-edible birthday celebrations
-”Safe” table for lunch (exp. Peanut-free)
-Inclusion table at lunch with monitor
-Parent or school nurse attend school field trips
-Peanut* free classroom (*or other food allergens)
-Alternate materials used for projects ( Science, Art)
-Latex free school supplies provided
-Children wash hands upon entering classroom and after lunch
-Medication monitoring by School Nurse

504 Plans save lives!

Nadine O’Reilly is a school psychologist in northern New Jersey. She is the author of the award winning Peter Can’t Eat Peanuts and Ethan Can’t Have Eggs. Nadine’s son is asthmatic and allergic to peanuts.

RSS feed for comments on this post.
TrackBack URI