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PrincessP
Big sister!!!!!!!!!!
Member since 12/05 17450 total posts
Name:
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Sensory
HELP! I am at my wits end. DD who LOVES school is going to school has a huge peer group that she loves. She is academnically where she needs to be. At 1145 (lunchtime) they line up and go to the cafeteria. She claims "the cafeteria smells" she gets in their and cries, gags, and pukes. Since 4 she has had some sensory issues but never really "smell" issues. We saw an OT yesterday to do a general eval.
The school really doesnt know what to do. In the AM she doesnt wantto go to school saying "I dont want to go to the cafeteria". The school was told from her dr to find a place for lunch for her for the time being. They are claiming that there is no one to watch her for the 45 min. Her anxiety over this is sky high. I dont really have answers or a plan. Principal is going in as a decoy today to watch. She was sent to nursing and then to psych to calm her down each time. This has been going on since last friday. Psych stays with behavioral models encouraging staff there to do the same (planned ignoring etc...) Myself, DR and OT fully disagree. DD's not your behavioral child. Anyone that knows her know she doesnt attention seek by throwing up/gagging. I do believe it probably smells but what is the answer? Thoughts ideas etc...?
adding before and after lunch are prefectly fine.
Message edited 9/14/2012 7:14:30 AM.
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Posted 9/14/12 7:13 AM  |
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sapphire
LIF Adolescent
Member since 6/06 568 total posts
Name:
Elizabeth
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Re: Sensory
As silly/simple as this sounds maybe she can carry some sort of scented lotion with her that she can put on her hands before lunch ? (even a scented anti-bacterial lotion). A scent she finds soothing and pleasant. She can maybe be encouraged to keep focusing on inhaling the preferred scent. Eventually, the 'aroma' of the cafeteria will probably lessen (her senses may finally adapt)
Does the whole school eat together ? Perhaps she can sit in the back of a classroom in another grade to eat her lunch. They could even include her into some sort of "partner" activity with a student from the main classroom.
Schools are overwhelming places, and so many of them are run with "golden rules" It's frustrating.
 I hope they work with you/her to solve the problem.
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| Posted 9/14/12 8:50 AM |
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NewLeaf2012
LIF Adult
Member since 1/11 2741 total posts
Name:
....
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Re: Sensory
Could something have happened that triggered this? When I worked in a nursery school we had a little boy with sensory issues and one day another child in the class had a very bad smelling diaper during music class and this poor little boy just lost it the next time we had music. He was gagging and crying with full blown panic attacks. After 2 days I was able to get it out of him what happened and we were able to correct the problem... He was only 3...
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| Posted 9/14/12 1:24 PM |
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PrincessP
Big sister!!!!!!!!!!
Member since 12/05 17450 total posts
Name:
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Re: Sensory
Posted by sapphire
As silly/simple as this sounds maybe she can carry some sort of scented lotion with her that she can put on her hands before lunch ? (even a scented anti-bacterial lotion). A scent she finds soothing and pleasant. She can maybe be encouraged to keep focusing on inhaling the preferred scent. Eventually, the 'aroma' of the cafeteria will probably lessen (her senses may finally adapt)
Does the whole school eat together ? Perhaps she can sit in the back of a classroom in another grade to eat her lunch. They could even include her into some sort of "partner" activity with a student from the main classroom.
Schools are overwhelming places, and so many of them are run with "golden rules" It's frustrating.
I hope they work with you/her to solve the problem.
I thought of the lotion on tuesday. It was ineffective. Her teacher and her put it on. She did the same things. This is her second yr in the same cafeteria. She is in 1st grade.
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| Posted 9/14/12 3:49 PM |
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PrincessP
Big sister!!!!!!!!!!
Member since 12/05 17450 total posts
Name:
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Re: Sensory
Posted by NewLeaf2012
Could something have happened that triggered this? When I worked in a nursery school we had a little boy with sensory issues and one day another child in the class had a very bad smelling diaper during music class and this poor little boy just lost it the next time we had music. He was gagging and crying with full blown panic attacks. After 2 days I was able to get it out of him what happened and we were able to correct the problem... He was only 3...
I totall think what happened was that she smelled something bad as you said that little boy did. How did you resolve it?
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| Posted 9/14/12 3:50 PM |
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Pumpkin
LIF Adult
Member since 5/05 3353 total posts
Name:
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Re: Sensory
Your DD is 1st grade correct? Is she in the same school as she was for K?
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| Posted 9/15/12 1:29 PM |
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PrincessP
Big sister!!!!!!!!!!
Member since 12/05 17450 total posts
Name:
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Re: Sensory
Posted by Pumpkin
Your DD is 1st grade correct? Is she in the same school as she was for K?
Yes. Same everything.
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| Posted 9/15/12 8:55 PM |
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KarenK122
The Journey is the Destination
Member since 5/05 4431 total posts
Name:
Karen
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Sensory
Maybe something happened with the kids in class and she doesn't want to eat with them? Maybe the anxiety of sitting with the kids is making her sick and she is just saying it's because it smells. If it really is the smell they have to do something for her....either sit in the front by the entrance, or farthest table from the kitchen, or by a window. Worse comes to worse they can have her eat in the nurses office. It's not that much time, don't they do recess as well? They won't be in the cafeteria for the full 45 minutes.
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| Posted 9/15/12 10:24 PM |
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PrincessP
Big sister!!!!!!!!!!
Member since 12/05 17450 total posts
Name:
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Re: Sensory
Posted by KarenK122
Maybe something happened with the kids in class and she doesn't want to eat with them? Maybe the anxiety of sitting with the kids is making her sick and she is just saying it's because it smells. If it really is the smell they have to do something for her....either sit in the front by the entrance, or farthest table from the kitchen, or by a window. Worse comes to worse they can have her eat in the nurses office. It's not that much time, don't they do recess as well? They won't be in the cafeteria for the full 45 minutes.
I would like to think its as simple as that. Its not another kid at all. She is playing with them having a grand ole' time. SWer and Psych observed and she is laughing hysterically with the kids and then gagging from the smell. I think its pretty clear that she is smelling something. Ie given her lotion, a smell pen, her fave. foods....its not working. The kids playing with her distracts her temporarily from the gagging. They say prior to and after lunch she is fine. The nurses office is out. But I agree with their decision on that bc she did get sick. I am hoping bc they have the next few days off that things get a little better.
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| Posted 9/16/12 9:45 AM |
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KarenK122
The Journey is the Destination
Member since 5/05 4431 total posts
Name:
Karen
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Sensory
I'm just throwing some stuff out there, but is she one of the first classes in the lunch room? Did they check the cleaning supplies then use in there. Maybe if they waxed the floors for the start of school it might still smell. I would push for them to take her into the lunch room at different times of the day and see if it is the same results (before lunch starts, during but at a different time, end of day). It may help you rule out some of the smells.
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| Posted 9/16/12 10:24 AM |
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BargainMama
LIF Adult
Member since 5/09 15657 total posts
Name:
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Sensory
Have you been in there yourself to smell it? I was walking my daughter down to the cafeteria for drop off each morning (that is where they congregate to go to class), and the smell of it makes ME want to gag. That is at 9am in the morning, I imagine it's worse when they are making the lunch, not the breakfast. I hope they can find an alternate place for her to eat. It's too bad they don't offer outdoor seating like they do in the middle/high schools. Of course that doesn't work in the Winter though.
Maybe the OT can write up something in the report that she must have an alternative seating arrangement for lunch due to her sensory issues, that way the district is required to abide by it? Not sure if that would go on an IEP or the 504 (I think that is what it's called?)
Message edited 9/16/2012 11:49:10 AM.
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| Posted 9/16/12 11:45 AM |
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PrincessP
Big sister!!!!!!!!!!
Member since 12/05 17450 total posts
Name:
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Re: Sensory
Posted by KarenK122
I'm just throwing some stuff out there, but is she one of the first classes in the lunch room? Did they check the cleaning supplies then use in there. Maybe if they waxed the floors for the start of school it might still smell. I would push for them to take her into the lunch room at different times of the day and see if it is the same results (before lunch starts, during but at a different time, end of day). It may help you rule out some of the smells.
It is first lunch time. 1145-1215. I also keep asking them to randomly send her down for whatever reason as a way to desnsitize this. Still, no plan.
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| Posted 9/16/12 10:06 PM |
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PrincessP
Big sister!!!!!!!!!!
Member since 12/05 17450 total posts
Name:
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Re: Sensory
Posted by BargainMama
Have you been in there yourself to smell it? I was walking my daughter down to the cafeteria for drop off each morning (that is where they congregate to go to class), and the smell of it makes ME want to gag. That is at 9am in the morning, I imagine it's worse when they are making the lunch, not the breakfast. I hope they can find an alternate place for her to eat. It's too bad they don't offer outdoor seating like they do in the middle/high schools. Of course that doesn't work in the Winter though.
Maybe the OT can write up something in the report that she must have an alternative seating arrangement for lunch due to her sensory issues, that way the district is required to abide by it? Not sure if that would go on an IEP or the 504 (I think that is what it's called?)
I have been requesting this "504" for over a yr now. In fact I told the principal this again and he told me he would get back to me bc he doesnt know how it works. Is he FOS or could he not know? He still hasnt gotten back to me. Any ideas of how to push the issue further?
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| Posted 9/16/12 10:07 PM |
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sarahbelle
Little drummer boy
Member since 5/05 2377 total posts
Name:
Sarah
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Re: Sensory
Posted by PrincessP
Posted by BargainMama
Have you been in there yourself to smell it? I was walking my daughter down to the cafeteria for drop off each morning (that is where they congregate to go to class), and the smell of it makes ME want to gag. That is at 9am in the morning, I imagine it's worse when they are making the lunch, not the breakfast. I hope they can find an alternate place for her to eat. It's too bad they don't offer outdoor seating like they do in the middle/high schools. Of course that doesn't work in the Winter though.
Maybe the OT can write up something in the report that she must have an alternative seating arrangement for lunch due to her sensory issues, that way the district is required to abide by it? Not sure if that would go on an IEP or the 504 (I think that is what it's called?)
I have been requesting this "504" for over a yr now. In fact I told the principal this again and he told me he would get back to me bc he doesnt know how it works. Is he FOS or could he not know? He still hasnt gotten back to me. Any ideas of how to push the issue further?
I'm going to vote FOS. In my school (NYC) our assistant principal is the coordinator for special services and can help parents with creating a 504. If the principal doesn't know how it works, he should direct you to someone who does. Maybe call SEPTA and ask them about the process? Or the special education office?
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| Posted 9/17/12 8:00 AM |
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KarenK122
The Journey is the Destination
Member since 5/05 4431 total posts
Name:
Karen
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Re: Sensory
Posted by PrincessP
Posted by BargainMama
Have you been in there yourself to smell it? I was walking my daughter down to the cafeteria for drop off each morning (that is where they congregate to go to class), and the smell of it makes ME want to gag. That is at 9am in the morning, I imagine it's worse when they are making the lunch, not the breakfast. I hope they can find an alternate place for her to eat. It's too bad they don't offer outdoor seating like they do in the middle/high schools. Of course that doesn't work in the Winter though.
Maybe the OT can write up something in the report that she must have an alternative seating arrangement for lunch due to her sensory issues, that way the district is required to abide by it? Not sure if that would go on an IEP or the 504 (I think that is what it's called?)
I have been requesting this "504" for over a yr now. In fact I told the principal this again and he told me he would get back to me bc he doesnt know how it works. Is he FOS or could he not know? He still hasnt gotten back to me. Any ideas of how to push the issue further?
Definitely FOS. You need to contact your CSE department at your school. Ours is in our Pupil personnel services department. They will direct you on beginning the paperwork for a 504. 504's though are not given for everything. They are mainly giving so that students can safely pursue the same opportunities as everyone else such as a nut free table, sitting in the front of the room for attention issues, testing accommodations.
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| Posted 9/17/12 8:21 AM |
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