Today we are shifting our focus to food allergies in school. I have the privilege of  speaking with Gina Mennett Lee, M.Ed. Gina works nationally and internationally as a food allergy consultant and educator. Using her education and experience as a former teacher and trained school administrator, she specializes in food allergy management in the school setting.  She is a parent to a child with food allergies as well as the founder of the non-profit, Food Allergy Education Network and author of the Preschool Food Allergy Handbook.

I’ve asked Gina four questions about food allergies and how they should be handled at school.

What is a 504 Plan and are they right for everyone?

A 504 Plan refers to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. It states that “no qualified individual with a disability shall, by reason of such disability, be excluded from participation in or be denied the benefits of the services, programs, or activities of a public entity, or be subjected to discrimination by any such entity”  More information about Section 504, can be found here.

Basically, a “504” is a plan created by a team to ensure that a person with a disability has equal access to the educational setting.  The “educational setting” may include the classroom, the cafeteria, the playground, the bus and school-sponsored events and activities.  The plan is typically a written list of accommodations.  For example, for a child with a food allergy, an accommodation may be, “All teachers supervising the child will be trained to recognize the symptoms of an allergic reaction and to administer the prescribed epinephrine auto-injector.”

There are many benefits to a 504 plan.  One being that the plan is legally binding and therefore parents have recourse if it is not being followed.  That being said, they may be not right for everyone.  I know of instances where the child has received less services through a 504 plan than they were receiving with a Health Care Plan (HCP).  The most important aspect of any plan is that it is developmentally appropriate, specific to the child, and that is being followed.  For tips on mistakes to avoid when pursuing a 504 plan, you can read my article for Allergic Living Magazine.

If parents do not pursue a 504 Plan what should they do instead?

The most important thing is that every child have a written plan.  Hopefully there is a system in place when the child registers for school that helps the school staff to identify children that may need accommodations.  Parents should approach the school in a spirit of collaboration with a list of concerns and medical documentation from their child’s doctor and ask how they can work together to create a plan to address these concerns.  If it is not a 504 plan, it is usually a HCP that is developed in collaboration with the school nurse.  On my website I have a list of the top 3 accommodations I think all children should have in place, but plans should be individualized to meet your child’s specific needs within that specific school setting.

How can parents and teachers work together to keep kids safe?

It is critical that parents and teachers work together to create a supportive environment for all children to learn and grow.  Kind, open and honest communication is very important.  Parents should start developing a relationship with their child’s teacher(s) as soon as possible.  I recommend meeting with the teacher before the first day of classes.  It is important that the teacher have that time to ask specific questions about your child and for you to be able to discuss any concerns you have.  Take this opportunity to stress to the teacher that you are there to support him or her and to be as helpful as possible.  Offer to look through class materials for potential allergens, be a room parent, send in non-food alternatives for prizes, etc…

The school also has a responsibility to foster a positive relationship and I believe that begins with education of school staff, and implementation of good policy.  Schools need to make sure that all staff fully understand the basics as well as the nuances of food allergy management.  There are many free training tools that schools can use.  It is important that the CDC guidelines are followed. Care needs to be taken that the child is physically safe and also supported socially and emotionally so that each child can reach their full potential as learners.

Teachers can support students with food allergies by learning about food allergies, modeling kindness and compassion, following the student’s written plan and being alert to and addressing incidences of bullying or exclusion.

What is the biggest danger for kids with food allergies at school and what can be done about it?

The biggest danger is that if a child has a reaction, appropriate action will not be taken.   In cases where children have died or been seriously hurt at school due to a food allergic reaction, it is because they were not given epinephrine at all or were not given it quickly enough.  It is critical that anyone with the responsibility of supervising children be trained to recognize the signs of an allergic reaction and that they know how to respond swiftly and appropriately.  Immediate access to epinephrine is a must.   Food allergy is a high-stakes condition.  If a mistake is made, the consequences are potentially fatal.   However, with proper protocols in place, children with food allergies can learn and function just as any other student.

Given that, I think the goal for all involved is to avoid having a serious reaction happen in the first place.  To me, the dangers increase the more we have food being shared.  I wrote a piece about food in the classroom that clarifies my thoughts on this and provides data to back up my reasoning, but I think it’s just common sense. If we can reduce the amount of unnecessary food being used in schools and classrooms we can reduce the number of reactions.  I use the term “unnecessary food” because this does not mean that no food should ever be in classrooms.  There are times when it may be appropriate.  For example, for a cooking class you need food. However, most of the food in classrooms these days is shared junk food for class parties, celebrations and rewards.  It is unnecessary and not to mention an unhealthy.  There are plenty of ways to celebrate without food and to include everyone.  I recently created a list of non-food alternatives for Kids with Food Allergies.  This can be downloaded for free and shared with school staff.  It’s important to mention that if food is to be used, it is imperative that school staff make a plan to ensure that everyone can safely and fully participate.  There is no reason for any child to be excluded from an activity due to a food allergy, or any other disability for that matter.  With advanced planning and preparation, all children can safely participate in their school community.

Thanks Gina for lending your expertise to this very big and complicated topic.

Please visit Gina at her website if you need help navigating your school’s food allergy policies. You can also connect with her on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.

For more great information about food allergies visit these popular posts: Keeping Kids with Food Allergies Safe at School, Adventures in Allergies and Food Allergies, Intolerance’s and Sensitives. Plus, check out the fantastic recipes!