Join Lori Sandler,  Gina Clowes founder of Allergy Moms, www.allergymoms.com, Barbara Rosenstein from the Food Allergy Initiative, www.faiusa.org (the world's largest private source of funding for food allergy research), and Maria Acebal from The Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network, www.foodallergy.org and a great team of co-hosts to talk about getting your child safely settled into school, and working with your school to keep your child safe and included. We'll talk about reasonable accommodations in schools for children with allergies and how you can get them.

Related Links: FoodAllergy.org
Category:HOME AND FOOD
    • X

      Featured Guest

      Gina Clowes

      Tell the truth. Never exaggerate. The truth is scary enough.
      Sabrina Shannons Story as told by her mother:
      http://www.allergymoms.com/modules/wordpress/index.php?p=1005

      BJ Hom’s story:
      http://www.allergymoms.com/modules/wordpress/index.php?p=818

      about 1 year ago

      Kim

      I wish I could teach people that it is not OK to offer food to someone else's child! The risk is too high, it makes the child upset, and scares parents.

      about 1 year ago

      EBrady

      And honestly, it shoudl be more than about the food allergic students they've already been made aware of! It should ALSO be about those children who are yet to present with LTFA and the ever-escalating numbers. It's about the health and safety of ALL the children.

      about 1 year ago

      EBrady

      Yes, shaking head too at the French Toast vs eggs. Still so many folks mistakenly think kids allergic to peanuts won't have problem with actual peaNUTS, but will with "peanut butter" (and vice versa). I have found that one of the FIRST things I try to do is get folks to begin to understand the inherent risk as to serving food to anybody for anything . . . there is such a misperception that food is inherently SAFE, when it really is not (not just LTFA, but bacteria/food prep, etc).

      about 1 year ago

      Colette Martin

      Kim, you are so right -- the basic ingredients is where it all starts

      about 1 year ago

      Kim

      Colette, some people have no idea. It's more than just avoid the food...it's anything containing that allergen that's a problem as well.

      about 1 year ago

      Featured Guest

      Gina Clowes

      Helping adults “GET” that food allergies are a matter of life and death
      http://www.healthcentral.com/allergy/c/48542/70066/helping-allergies

      about 1 year ago

      SusanWeissman

      I try to communicate on MY time - NOT the teacher's time. I try to find out whether she prefers email, phone calls, her prefered times to discuss non-academic matters. I think showing our teachers that we understand they will use more time and effort on our child's condition goes a long way.

      about 1 year ago

      Kim

      Awesome! Thank you!

      about 1 year ago

      Colette Martin

      Kim, it's amazing how many people don't really understand what is in their food. LOL at your french toast example...

      about 1 year ago

      Featured Guest

      Gina Clowes

      Protecting your child from food allergies at PreSchool
      http://www.healthcentral.com/allergy/c/48542/67942/protecting-child

      about 1 year ago

      Kim

      @mommystory- I feel the same way. Like nobody else understands how serious it is. I've had people tell me "that's why you have an epi-pen". No! We have an epi-pen in case an accident occurs....not because we make a choice to put our child in danger with certain foods. So frustrating!

      about 1 year ago

      Kim

      Thank you!

      about 1 year ago

      Featured Guest

      mommystory

      I understand the anxiety. And it feels awful to think that no one else is taking the allergy as seriously as you. In my case, the school keeps treating my daughter's allergy like it's not real, since it's not life-threatening. It's been an uphill battle making them see that it still must be respected.

      about 1 year ago

      Featured Guest

      Maria @ FAAN

      One important thing to remember is all this is a PROCESS. One conversation won't do it. It takes multiple, calm, confident communications.

      about 1 year ago

      Featured Guest

      Gina Clowes

      10 Things Children with food allergies want you to know ebook and 90 minute teleclass
      http://www.allergymoms.com/10things.html

      This is a 40 page eBook for any caregiver including teacher, school nurse or administrator. It sheds light on the emotional toll for our children and helps caregivers learn easy ways to include our kids and be sensitive to their needs.

      It also includes a 90 minute recording where I coach parents on how to get their child safely settled in school

      about 1 year ago

      erica

      i feel you have to interview tons until you feel there is one you could work with comfortably.

      about 1 year ago
    • Kim 17 comments
    • Does anyone have any tips for me to use to explain the magnitude of food allergies to my son's daycare? I feel like they don't understand. My son is allergic to egg, berries, peanuts, treenuts and soy. When I was explaining this to the daycare the director went on to tell me about "accomodations" that they make and said "He could have french toast on the day the other kids have eggs". I wanted to fall out of my chair when she said that because obviously that contains allergens for him. Sending him to daycare/school gives me so much anxiety which is why he is still home with us during the day.
      about 1 year ago
    • X

      anneb

      That is what I was told.

      about 1 year ago

      Tricia

      Am I within my rights under an IEP to call special meetings as I feel needed?

      about 1 year ago

      Tricia

      @anneb. I agree.

      about 1 year ago

      anneb

      We started with a 504 for allergies then got a diagnosis of dyslexia. The IEP team only wants to focus on the academic issues and it has been difficult getting the FA issues addressed. My suggestion is having multiple meetings with different topics with only the appropriate team members there for the area to be discussed. More meetings is a pain, but it's one way to get everything fully addressed.

      about 1 year ago

      Tricia

      Sounds like I need to insist on key staff attendance or multiple meetings.

      about 1 year ago

      Tricia

      Oh, I'm there all the time. I have a 504 plan only with my other son and there seems to just me more details and follow through with that plan than my other child's IEP

      about 1 year ago

      Thanita

      @Tricia - I would then ask for a separate meeting specifically to address the allergy related accommodations that will be included in the IEP. My 2 older kids have IEP's and I know how long those darn meetings can get!

      about 1 year ago

      anneb

      Tricia,
      I completely agree with you. That has been very difficult for us this year.

      about 1 year ago

      Featured Guest

      Felicia

      In NC you can't have both. So, it should be listed on the IEP. I would strongly encourage you to set up parent conferences to keep teachers informed.

      about 1 year ago

      Tricia

      Yes, my son's allergy is very severe. He's already had a serious reaction at school and had to be epi pened twice and taken by ambulance.

      about 1 year ago

      Suz

      Tricia...since the FA are life threatening I would address those issues first

      about 1 year ago

      Featured Guest

      mommystory

      In our distrcit the IEP can serve for both. We're actually having my daughter's food allergy added to her IEP for next year to better enforce her not being given foods that will make her sick. Her allergy isn't life-threatening, but it still has an impact on her.

      about 1 year ago

      Tricia

      My main issue is that during the marathon long IEP meetings, the folks that I need present for Allergy concerns try to get out of sitting through long discussions about Speech therapy and occupational therapy.

      about 1 year ago

      Tricia

      Do you find that the health concerns seem to come secondary to the educational concerns with a combined plan?

      about 1 year ago

      erica

      I am not a lawyer but my lawyer said the iep can definitely do the same as a 504 . I asked my district for a 504 and they are trying to get him an iep, slthough i dont think he will qualify.

      about 1 year ago

      Thanita

      That's how it's done in my district. The food allergy accommodations that usually would be in the 504 plan is listed in the IEP accommodations page.

      about 1 year ago
    • Tricia 16 comments
    • Hi Ladies,

      I have a question regarding 504 plans vs. IEP. My youngest son is HF Austim and has an IEP. I've tried to get a separate 504 plan for him like we do my older son, but the school has been insistent that the IEP will cover both his educational plan and his food allergy accommodation. Is the correct? I'm not happy with it combined so far.
      about 1 year ago