Does anyone have a 504 for food allergies?

Just curious how common they are for FA, I know we are legally entitled to one as the state classifies it as a disability. Running into some resistance on an issue and I'm wondering if I should push for the 504 so they have to make the accommodation.

TIA.

Re: Does anyone have a 504 for food allergies?

Both of my kids have anaphylactic food allergies. I didn't even know this was an option.

Re: Does anyone have a 504 for food allergies?

Here's info from the state dept of health

Also, NY is the ONLY state that does not allow children with asthma or anaphylaxis to carry their own meds. You know how important seconds can be in getting the meds into the system to save their life. You can read more here and you might want to contact your legislators to get NYS moving on this legislation.

Re: Does anyone have a 504 for food allergies?

what kind of accomodation are you looking for? what is the age of the kid?

Re: Does anyone have a 504 for food allergies?

My son has a food allergy and I assumed that there will be a written plan & this assumption was based on our talk with the school nurse. Even if there is not an official 504 plan, his school has documentation and they told me, rather than having me tell them, that they have very strict rules for food allergies. Even if I approve it in advance, he will not be allowed to eat anything sent from another home, plus I have to approve a list of cafeteria foods. I think we should be fine with those accommodations. I am allowed to send food for him from my house to be used if a kid has a class party.

Re: Does anyone have a 504 for food allergies?

Re: Does anyone have a 504 for food allergies?

We have healthcare action plans for allergies. I thought 504s are for academic accommodations, like extra time, extra set of textbooks, etc. The 504 is to help students with medical conditions better access the curriculum because their condition impacts their ability to access it alone.

My daughter started school with an epi pen and Benederyl on site because of food allergies. It was a healthcare action plan that detailed treatment in the event of a reaction.

Message edited 6/10/2012 12:14:37 PM.

Re: Does anyone have a 504 for food allergies?

I will preface this by saying I have a child with an IEP, so perhaps my view is different from the average parent.

If my child had life threatening allergies, and I knew I could get a 504 for it, I absolutely would ask for one. The reason is that if you have a 504 it is legally binding and the school is required to follow the plan. I also saw in the document you linked to that it involves faculty training, not just that the nurse is responsible. It doesn't say anything about the IHC being a legal document.

I know we all believe that our schools have our children's best interests in mind, but for me, this is too important to leave any stone unturned. There are too many inconsistencies how things are handled in different schools or even different classrooms that would make me nervous in this scenario.

Re: Does anyone have a 504 for food allergies?

This year (K) hasn't been an issue. We have benedryl, epi-pen & food allergy action plan at the nurses office. But we are half day so no lunch or snack so it's been easy to manage.

Next year the classroom has to be peanut free due to a recent anaphylaxis episode (which happened outside of school but the principal knows about) and they don't seem to want to commit to that. We're trying to figure out if the 504 will help.

ETA: The nurse refuses to talk about it, says that it has to be decided by the principal.

Message edited 6/11/2012 9:32:16 PM.

Re: Does anyone have a 504 for food allergies?

You might want a 504 in regards to trips. Say you cannot make a trip...who is going to go with your child to administer the meds etcs? Just an idea. 504s can states that a nurse must be present.

Re: Does anyone have a 504 for food allergies?

Message edited 6/11/2012 11:12:36 PM.

Re: Does anyone have a 504 for food allergies?

Re: Does anyone have a 504 for food allergies?

My daughter has a 504 plan. It is for the best interest of everyone that you have it in place. Ours says that an aid be present during snack, lunch, recess, and all activities where food will be present. It also states that all of her classroom teacher and subs know ow to use an Epi Pen, know how to look for signs of a reaction, and know how to follow the a ton plan. In addition to that the 504 also protects my daughter from her many school absences because of her asthma.

Re: Does anyone have a 504 for food allergies?

My DD isn't school-age yet, but as a HS counselor I rarely see 504s for allergies. (I have seen them for gastro disorders like Crohn's or for students with other health impairments). If they're very severe, it is a good idea, but there should definitely be an action plan in place with the nurse and school admin.

Re: Does anyone have a 504 for food allergies?

As a high school teacher for 20 years, I've never seen a 504 exclusively for allergies and I've had at least three students with pretty severe and comprehensive allergies.

Every year I get a medical conditions folder from the nurse outlining the allergies of all of my students and/or students in the general building if I have cafeteria duty. We are retrained yearly on proper use of the epi-pen. Because it's a high school, food is frowned upon in the classrooms.

Re: Does anyone have a 504 for food allergies?

Here's a link to some info about 504s.

http://www.protectallergickids.org/about.html

Re: Does anyone have a 504 for food allergies?

Thanks all. Looks like we're moving in the right direction now.