504 Plans for Students with Celiac Disease Andrea

504 Plans for Students with Celiac Disease Andrea Levario, J. D.

Goals for Today • Federal Laws • Options for meeting student needs • Process • 504 plan components • GF menus

What is Section 504? • Part of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 • Federal civil rights law • All qualified persons with disabilities within the jurisdiction of a school district are entitled to a free appropriate public education

Understand the Options • 504 Plan • Individual Health Plan • Individual Education Plan

504 and IHP 504 Plan • • • In writing, formal Documented disability Lists accommodations Parents may be involved Due process Individual Health Plan • In writing, informal • Not legally binding • No documented disability

IDEA Individual Education Plan (IEP) • For students with specific disabilities • Specialized instruction program • Parents involved • Defined procedural process

Federal Disability Laws Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Section 504 Rehabilitation Act 1973 • Applies to public schools • Applies to most private schools • Applies to limited private schools

Celiac Disease = Disability? Must meet this standard – The individual student has a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activities.

“Major Life Activities” • • Walking Seeing Hearing Speaking Breathing Reading Thinking • • Learning Working Eating Caring for one’s self Communicating Concentrating Performing manual tasks

The Process • Request for services • Student evaluation • Determination of eligibility • Plan drafted, approved, implemented

What to Document • Identify the disability • Explain how it restricts the child's diet • Major life activity affected • Foods to be omitted • Foods to be substituted

Medical Statement

Medical Statement (cont. )

Scope of Section 504 Class Emergency Extracurricular Activities Food Service Communication

The 504 Plan Objective – Safe Environment • Accommodations predicated on student age • Reasonable • Team effort to keep child safe

In the Classroom • Snacks / Rewards • Cleaning desks • Attention to hand washing • Additional bathroom privileges • Extra time for test taking • Information for substitute teachers

Communication is Key • Parental notification • Emergency contacts • Emergency evacuations / shelter-in-place

Attention in the School Kitchen • Separate food preparation • Dedicated work spaces and/or equipment • Clean and sanitize surfaces, equipment • Review product labels, share with parent • Staff training

Meal Accommodations Required With Approval • Allergies - potential of anaphylaxis • Allergies - no anaphylaxis • Celiac disease • Food intolerances

Chesterfield County, VA Middle School Gluten-Free Menu

Helpful Notes for Dietitians • Know what the USDA meal pattern requirements are so that you can assist the school in developing the child’s personalized diet plan. • Be knowledgeable of the policies and procedures in place for the State and local district as they pertain to children with identified special dietary needs

Resources • CDF Website • Foodallergy. org • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) “Voluntary Guidelines for Managing Food Allergies In Schools and Early Care and Education Programs”

THANK YOU ANDREA LEVARIO ASLEVARIO@YAHOO. COM