Check My Tag

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Announces New Food Allergy Initiative Advocacy Steering Committee

2009-05-17T16:58:00.001-05:00

Leading parent advocates from across the country join forces to advocate for more research funding to find a cure.

WASHINGTON, DC, May 14, 2009–Today, as we continue to mark Food Allergy Awareness Week, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., member of the Board of Directors of the Food Allergy Initiative (FAI), announced the formation of FAI’s Advocacy Steering Committee. The committee’s objectives are to help build a strong nationwide presence for the food allergy community in the public policy arena; and to actively seek to increase federal funding of food allergy research, as scientists believe that with proper funding, a cure can be found in less than a decade.

The new steering committee comprises 16 leading parent advocates nationwide who confront the daily dangers of raising children with severe food allergies.

“FAI is tremendously honored and grateful to have such an esteemed group of parents who are willing to join our effort to find a cure,” said Kennedy. “These parents are proven advocates and support group leaders in their local communities. We are thrilled to add their energy and expertise to our advocacy program.”

Steering committee members include:
• Gina Clowes,Chair – AllergyMoms; Cranberry Township, PA
• Denise Bunning– Mothers of Children Having Allergies; Lake Forest, IL
• Nicole Smith– Allergic Child; Colorado Springs, CO
• Sue Wagner & Carol D’Agnese– San Diego Food Allergy; San Diego, CA
• Rhonda Riggott Stevens– Education & Advocacy Solutions; Durham, CT
• Debbie Hogan– Parents of Children with Food Allergies; Tampa, FL
• Maria Acebal– Safe at School Partners, Bethesda, MD
• Nona Narvaez– Anaphylaxis and Food Allergy Association of Minnesota; St. Paul, MN
• Barbara Calluori– Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Coalition of New Jersey; Nutley, NJ
• Sari Canell– Food Allergy Educational Alliance; Scarsdale, NY
• Chris Hardy– Parents of Allergic Kids; Charlotte, NC
• MaryKay Hill– Vermont Food Allergy Organization; Shelburne, VT
• Sally Porter– Food Allergy Initiative Northwest; Sammamish, WA
• Meg Goss & Sheree Godwin– Food Allergy Association of Wisconsin; Madison, WI

“I am very pleased to take part in FAI’s new steering committee,” said Committee Chair Gina Clowes. “For 11 years, FAI has led the way in funding research to find a cure to this life-threatening disease. Nothing is more important to me and millions of other parents who wish they could take their children to restaurants, birthday parties and school cafeterias without living in constant fear of exposure to potentially deadly allergens like peanuts,tree nuts, milk, eggs and wheat.”

“My fellow committee members are the best and brightest advocates from all over the country,” Clowes continued. “Every day they are out in their communities making a difference for families with food allergies. As a group, we will devote their attention, resources and expertise toward making sure the federal government is on the leading edge to find a cure.”

About Food Allergies
There are no medications to cure or control food allergies. A strict diet and avoidance of the allergenic food is the only way to avoid a reaction, yet the most common allergens – peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, milk, fish, shellfish, wheat and soy – are staples of the food supply and virtually impossible to avoid completely. Accidental exposure to even a minuscule amount of the offending food can cause an allergic individual to react within seconds, often leading to life-threatening anaphylaxis that causes throat swelling, a dramatic drop in blood pressure, vomiting and even death within a matter of minutes. Although researchers estimate that food allergies cause tens of thousands of emergency room visits each year, they do not understand why rates are increasing so alarmingly, particularly among children. As the CDC report indicated, in a recent five-year period, the rates of peanut allergies among children literally doubled, and allergies to other foods are similarly increasing.

About the Food Allergy Initiative (FAI)
The Food Allergy Initiativeis a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that funds research seeking a cure for food allergies. It was founded in 1998 by concerned parents and grandparents to support: basic and clinical research worldwide; better public policies to make the world safer for those afflicted; and educational programs to make the hospitality industry, schools, day care centers, and camps safer. FAI is the largest private source of funding for food allergy research in the United States, contributing more than $60 million toward the fulfillment of its mission. For more information, visit www.faiusa.org, call 212-207-1974, or e-mail info@faiusa.org.

Allergy Fre Preschool

2009-04-21T09:31:00.002-05:00

St. Stephen ECD & Preschool is located in South St. Louis City, Missouri. They are the only preschool designed specifically for children between the ages of 2 1/2 to 5 with food allergies. They provide a safe and secure environment - free from trigger foods known to cause allergic reactions. Open to ALL children of preschool age since 2002, SSECD is the only preschool in the nation designed specifically for children with health issues.

Check out their website here

HB 922 has moved to the MO Senate

2009-04-09T18:45:00.005-05:00

Senate Committee: EDUCATION
04/09/2009 - Public Hearing Scheduled (S)
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15, 2009
1:00P.M.
SENATE LOUNGE
HB922

CALL your Senators in support of this bill,... show them we need it!

SPREAD THE WORD NOW....

If anyone can attend the hearing in support please do so. You will get to
address the hearing panel. If not send your words to your Senators via
their e-mail they will be passed to the hearing committee and read.

Thank You!!
Paula Simpson
psimpson@mindseyeinc.com

Allergens on Airlines Survey

2009-03-10T18:52:00.000-05:00

Not sure if everyone has seen/participated in this survey about allergens on airlines, but please take a few seconds and participate.
Thanks!
Carol
http://survey.constantcontact.com/survey/a07e2h2368hfrsnb0e0/start

HB922 in Missouri Regarding Food Allergy in Schools

2009-03-10T18:43:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow the bill from Rep. Joe Smith will be in hearing addressing Food
Allergy in Schools:

ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
Date: Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Time: 8:00 a.m.
Place: Hearing Room 6
Executive session may be held.

Here's the link:
http://house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills091/bills/HB922.htm

This is open to the public. The more support the better.

School Guidelines for Food Allergy Management

2009-03-09T18:38:00.001-05:00

Please see the attached assessment in conjunction w/ BJC. This is part of the
School Guidelines that will be developed soon. Kathleen needs these back by
the end of the week and e-mailed to her at: KMcDarby@bjc.org

Please take the time to fill these out as the results will affect all families
whose children have food allergies in the public school systems.

Please respond to KMcDarby (@) bjc.org
Kathleen McDarby, RN, MPH
Project Manager
SLCH Food Allergy ProgramFoodAllergyNeedsAssessmentParents2.doc

Kyle Dine is Back in St. Louis for National Food Allergy Awareness Week

2009-03-04T18:35:00.000-06:00

The Food Allergy Fair 2009 plans are already underway w/ the date set for Sept.
12th in the morning @ the Kirkwood Community Center. Last year, we were lucky
enough to have Kyle Dine perform as one of his first US performances. BUT,
this year, he can't make that date work. However, he is able to do a
performance on Thursday, May 14th @ 4pm so people could come right after
school. The cost would be $200, and we would need a place for him to perform
like a school auditorium, library or what have you~hopefully for free. ARE WE
INTERESTED? This is during National Food Allergy Awareness Week, but I need
your help in planning something. Ideas and someone to take over planning are
welcome. Here is his website.

The metro east FAST group on the other side of the river is planning a walk for
FAAN on October 17th in O'Fallon, Illinois. Everything is still in the early
planning stages. Lori Tillock will post more when details are available for
those who are interested in participating and/or volunteering. Gateway FEAST
will not be able to hold a walk at this time as we need volunteers for the Food
Allergy Fair and Circus Flora first, so this is the venue for you if interested.

Lastly, I am hoping to hear from more people who will volunteer to help wipe
seats for Circus Flora's Peanut-Free Preview Night.

THIS GROUP WILL NOT RUN WITHOUT VOLUNTEERS!!! PLEASE STEP UP AND HELP!!! Send a message to FEAST @ aafastl.org

Circus Flora Peanut Free!

2009-03-03T18:32:00.000-06:00

Join Circus Flora in St. Louis, MO for the World Premiere of “Medrano”
Thursday, June 4th @ 7:00 p.m. (2 hr. performance w/ 15 min. intermission)
“Peanut-Free Preview” Night (There will be NO peanuts or peanut items sold for this one night,
their “preview night”, under the air-conditioned big top!!)

TICKETS ON SALE NOW!!!

Please go to our show page to find out more about their new show, special
events and opportunities on their site.

For information on purchasing tickets, directions and prices please go to:
http://www.circusflora.org/tour.htm

PLEASE ALSO SIGN-UP TO VOLUNTEER TO HELP WIPE DOWN THE SEATS!! WE NEED YOU!! IF INTERESTED, E-MAIL FEAST at AAFASTL.ORG

Please invite family/friends!

Peanut Butter Recall

2009-01-28T08:44:00.002-06:00

So now peanut butter is making everyone sick, not just allergy kids!!! Jeana Lee Tahnk of Motherhood Examiner has more in her article, "Things You Should Know About the Peanut Butter Recall"

As the peanut butter recall continues to grow, it’s hard to make sense of all the information that is being passed around. Major brands like Keebler, Kellogg, Trader Joe's, even Starbucks have pulled products off the shelves and the recall is causing a great deal of confusion around the country. The salmonella scare is very real and as consumers and parents, we need to be informed of what the latest information is to keep our families healthy. USA Today and the San Jose Mercury News recently posted a list of important questions and answers we all should know about the salmonella outbreak.

Read the rest of the story here...

Check My Tag Featured on Great Day St. Louis

2009-01-21T22:18:00.002-06:00

Hey, everyone! We were on TV! Check out the clip from Great Day St. Louis. The segment starts at about 3:35 of this clip.

Another Reason to Avoid Peanut Butter

2009-01-15T10:33:00.002-06:00

Thanks to Jeana Lee Tahnk for alerting me via Twitter of the Salmonella contamination in peanut butter. At first it was just King Nut brand peanut butter but now Kellogg has recalled its Keebler and Austin brand peanut butter crackers. Jeana writes the full story at www.examiner.com.

Not a concern for US, of course but as a side benefit, there will be less of those peanut butter crackers floating around for awhile.

2008-12-18T21:00:00.002-06:00

Just in time for the holidays... some positive news in the world of food and food allergies. Just the other day, I stumbled on a copy of Sauce Magazine that featured Linda Daniels of Free Range Cookies that offers breads, cookies and candies that are all gluten-free. Opposite the article was an ad for Pasta House, featuring their gluten-free menu. (Now, I have heard some conflicting reports about the veracity of these claims. I reader actually commented that the pasta was NOT actually gluten free so I hope that someone at the Pasta House can clarify this. That's pretty serious!)

I attended a school meeting regarding food allergies, wherein several families shared their experiences with co-managing life-threatening food allergies with their kids' schools. The folks with older kids were very encouraging, explaining that their middle and high school kids have stayed safe and have been very proactive and responsible regarding their food choices.

And earlier this month, Gateway FEAST hosted a meeting focusing on Section 504 Plans and working with schools, which was very well attended. For notes and resources on the subject, visit the Gateway FEAST Yahoo Groups page.

Submit Your Concerns to the FDA About Confusing Food Labels by January 14, 2009

2008-12-01T19:58:00.000-06:00

This seems to be a HOT issue today! I stumbled on a blog, a news story and a message in one of my Facebook groups, all having to do with food labels and the risks associated for those with severe food allergies. Obviously, it's an issue that hits close to home... this danger and frustration of "May contain...."

A story in the Chicago Tribune last month titled, "Children at risk in food roulette" says kids with food allergies are being used as guinea pigs. They are suffering avoidable life-threatening reactions because manufacturers mislabel their products and regulators don't police them effectively. Read and Digg the story here. The Tribune also has a link to a database of allergy-related food recalls from the last 10 years, sorted by product, allergen, recalling firm, or kind of food. It's work a bookmark!

This is especially risky for those who are allergic to preservatives and natural flavorings, since the FDA currently does not require that these ingredients be disclosed. But we, as consumers have an opportunity to submit our vote on this matter.

ACTION ITEM: The FDA is accepting comments on this issue until January 14, 2009. Please go to the FDA's docket page on "Food Labeling; Current Trends in the Use of Allergen Advisory Labeling: Its Use, Effectiveness, and Consumer Perception; Public Hearing; Request for Comments" and SUBMIT YOUR COMMENT.

Upcoming Gateway FEAST Events

2008-11-19T23:19:00.003-06:00

If you are in the St. Louis area, the next meeting for Gateway FEAST (Food Allergy and Eczema Support Team) is on December 2 at 7pm at Llywelyn's Pub in Webster. The subject is Food Allergies and the Law and our featured education attorney (who I interviewed for our series on Section 504 Plans), Kathryn VanVoorhees of VanVoorhees Law will be there to answer any questions regarding disability law and how it applies to your food allergy kid.

Other team members will share their experiences with local school districts. Their parent-only holiday social is also scheduled for December 17. RSVP to either/both at FEAST @ aafastl.org

Living With Food Allergies Carnival: November 13 Edition

2008-11-13T10:15:00.006-06:00

Welcome to the November 13, 2008 edition of living with food allergies carnival. It's a lively one this week, with a smorgasbord of great information to take us into the holiday season. Thanks, everyone, for all of your great articles!

My (Check My Tag) submission for this week is Diets for Food Allergies.

pnreddy presents Food Allergies On Rise In U.S. Children posted at Allergy Asthma Zone.

pnreddy presents Are You Worried About Food Allergy? Simple Tips To Manage Your Food Allergies! posted at Allergy Asthma Zone.

Amy Leger presents Three Resources You Need to Find a Gluten-Free-Friendly Restaurant posted at The Savvy Celiac, saying, "From time to time, we all want and need to get out! But some people with celiac disease have trouble eating out, concerned they will get sick. There are resources out there. This post highlights three must-haves to bookmark so you can quickly reference them when you want a night out on the town."

Jennifer O'Quigley presents It's Eggcellent!!! - A Successful Food Challenge posted at Comments From the Peanut Free Gallery.

Jennifer O'Quigley presents I Found A New Superhero - Super Epi Pen posted at Comments From the Peanut Free Gallery.

Fiona King presents 100 Must-Have Sites for Vegans, Vegetarians and Locavores posted at Culinary School Guide.

Amy Leger presents Work Lunches and Parties: Orchestrate Your Gluten-Free Options posted at The Savvy Celiac, saying, "I am looking for other tips from readers as well for a follow-up article on how celiacs make the work-food decisions easier on themselves! I would love to hear different suggestions from people after they read the blog!"

Nancy Miller presents A Few Good Stress Busters posted at Becoming A Radiologist.

Libby presents Thanks for "Nothing" Thanksgiving Round Up posted at The Allergic Kid, saying, "I will randomly select a winner from the entries and mail that person a bag of wild rice as a prize."

Linds presents Easy Buckwheat Biscuits (GF, DF, EF and SF) posted at This Abode, saying, "I created this easy biscuit recipe for our whole family to enjoy. They are gluten free and free of the top eight allergens. Very tasty!"

Jennifer B presents Is FDA's List of Top Food Allergens Complete? posted at Food Allergy Buzz, saying, "Many other countries already label for sesame--why not the U.S.? Are we behind?"

Amy Leger presents Expanding the Gluten-Free Family posted at The Savvy Celiac, saying, "What if someone asked you to take in a child with special diet needs? Could or would you do it? It happened to our family, when an exchange student with celiac disease needed a gluten-free home for the school year. Read on as you hear about the work that went into it and the payoff for our family. It could work for you too."

That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of living with food allergies carnival using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

Technorati tags:
living with food allergies carnival, blog carnival.

Product Review: Sunscreen Soap

2008-11-09T14:26:00.001-06:00

Now that the weather has finally dipped below 60 in my neck of the woods, it's a perfect time to blog about sunscreen (!?!). Well, not really but I did get a sample of this new product: Bethesda Sunscreen Soap. It's a bar soap that has a built-in SPF 10. Why am I even reviewing it? Well, I'm rather particular when it comes to skin care with allergy kid but I was willing to give this a shot since my little guy is not unlike his father in his reluctance to put anything on his skin. It also has a built-in vitamins that not only do not aggravate his eczema but seem to soothe his irritated skin.

I personally coat myself and my children with at least SPF 30 (if not 50) so 10 really doesn't measure up to my personal standards, especially during the height of the summer. But I have been using the soap throughout the fall and my friends and I did a field test one day at the pumpkin patch to see if an additional "line" on my arm of traditional lotion would make a difference. And it didn't! So I imagine I'll use this all winter, especially on my face and arms.

As a soap, it's fine. It's not particularly fragrant or lathery but it's perfectly acceptable... soap. It retails at $8/bar, which seems a little steep but considering how much suncreen costs, especially those fancy brands, I guess it's not too bad. It is quite ingenious for those people who hate to put on sunscreen lotion... like GOLFERS. I mean, I've spent years reminding my husband and/or picking out a brand that wasn't "too sticky, greasy, gooey or... makes me smell like a french fry and ruins my grip!"

Diets for Food Allergies

2008-11-06T00:06:00.002-06:00

An elimination diet is more for people who are uncertain what foods are triggering allergic reactions. These reactions can be producing symptoms like a chronic runny nose, fatigue, eczema flare ups, or upset stomachs. Unlike anaphylactic reactions or severe reactions, in which the offending substance may be easier to trace, the cause of these mild and chronic symptoms can be elusive. Some people say that an elimination diet is the only surefire way to diagnose a food allergy. Although blood tests may report a statistical likelihood of a reaction (kinda like the weather forecast), the only way to really know if someone is allergic to something is if they eat it and have a reaction. Or, in this case, don't eat it and feel better.

The idea behind elimination diets is pretty self-explanatory. It's troubleshooting... you know, if you can't send an email, you unplug the whole thing and then start powering up your computer, then your cable modem, then your WiFi, then your mail program to isolate what is mucking up the works. Think of it as a system reboot. But unfortunately in the case of your child with food allergies, your kid is going to have something to say about being asked to eat only RICE for a month, or whatever the least reactive food is recommended by your allergist. This is definitely a daunting thought but there are resources out there that can help make this task easier. Sandie at Macaroni and Peas specializes in working with food allergy families to develop menus and she is continuing our blog duet with a great post about elimination diets.

I have to admit that I've tried a form of an elimination diet with my son... not all too successfully. To "treat" his nut allergy, i.e., to make him less reactive, his chiropractor prescribed a "detox" program for two months, explaining that his body was just fighting too many stressors. Instead of eliminating possible allergens, he recommended avoiding all "fake" food... anything processed AT ALL. I was to feed him only things that have come from the ground. No preservatives, additives. I was to choose wild instead of farm-raised fish, make my own bread from organic flour, etc. And as I was walking out the door, he also said, "Oh... and eliminate ALL sugar." Hmmm... I began to weigh my options. As I fed him breakfast the next day (yogurt, ham, waffle), I realized... surely, it is easier to avoid nuts!

I'm not sure what effect it had on his allergies but I have maintained a much healthier diet for him and our family. We've switched to a majority of organic foods and I actually cook a lot more... improving both the health of my kids and pocketbook!

Countdown to An Allergy-free Halloween!

2008-10-22T09:22:00.003-05:00

Halloween is just around the corner, folks! And food allergy families are gearing up for this scaaaaaaaary holiday. I know it's tough not to get completely freaked out by the potential hazards that are lurking in every tricky treat. My own experiences have been very positive, with non-allergy families being incredibly mindful of treats they are supplying, our kids schools being ultra-aware, and my kid doing his part to stay safe. But let's not get complacent, shall we?

Here are some helpful resources for you as you kick off the holiday season!

Halloween Site
Thanks to our friends at Gateway FEAST, we just found out about a great new site called ALLERGYFREEHALLOWEEN.ORG. On the site, you can download a door sign that indicates your household's allergy-friendly status, learn about "safe" treats, and sign up for alerts and reminders.

Halloween Events
Speaking of Gateway FEAST... they are hosting yet another great event, the 2nd annual Halloween Trick-or-Trinket, a food-free event for food allergy families in the St. Louis area. It's going to be a great time for the whole family, including Carnival Games, The Magic Storyteller, Chris McBrien, and It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown Movie. So if you are near the Gateway City, go to the Gateway FEAST Facebook event page for more details and to RSVP!
And if not, find out from your local support group if there are events like this in your city.

Halloween Treats
The Sandlers of Divvies have introduced new chocolate bars with no dairy and nuts and made in their dedicated facility. There's still time to get these in before next week... along with their Halloween Jelly Beans!

Halloween Food Safety Tips
And a few closing tips from our Be Aware. Be Safe. bulletin that is distributed the preschools:
• Have non-food treat options for trick-or-treaters
• Place treats in places that cannot be reached by young children without assistance
• Ask teachers before bringing in special Halloween goodies to classrooms
• If you are hosting a party, ask if there are food allergy concerns on your invitation
• Be aware—ask a parent or caregiver before offering food to any child
• If you see a Check My Tag shirt or any other alert device on a child, be extra vigilant!

Happy Halloweeny!

My Very Own Allergy Kit for Food Allergies

2008-10-14T10:55:00.004-05:00

Macaroni and Peas has a great post on creating allergy kits to keep your allergic children safe. She followed the same thought process I did when my boy was first diagnosed with his severe food allergies. I guess this is a good time as any to revisit what got me to where I am today!

My boy was just a baby and he had a piece of an almond cookie. I'm sure most food allergy moms can relate to this... that first anaphylactic reaction! He threw up and starting getting hives all over his body, and swelling. We put him in footed pajamas and two layers of socks on his hands to keep him from tearing his skin off! Fortunately, at the E.R., the determined that his oxygen levels were okay. After the epinephrine shot and steroids, we went home. We had this family dinner thing so my husband went with our daughter and I stayed home with him. The hives had swelled into one big giant red ugly thing... he looked like a scarred burn victim. I felt so bad for him. And then I felt bad for myself... how was I going to keep him safe? And then, I got over myself and starting really thinking about it, right then!

How could he live a normal life while staying safe? I started to envision all the scenarios that he would have to be and want to be... preschool, camps, I don't know... Chuck E. Cheese! It seemed like the best way to keep him safe was to alert everyone to his food allergy and yet, not make it the defining element of his life. In the week or so following "the incident," I got online and tried to find allergy alert stuff for him. I was frustrated because none of them matched his specific trigger foods. There wasn't a shirt for peanuts, tree nuts, eggs AND milk. I wasn't happy with the options that were out there at the time.

So I came up with my own solution. I was creating my own allergy kit! I was a designer, after all!!! I started with the shirt, of course... that I could personalize with HIS trigger foods and also what to do in case he had another anaphylactic reaction... which I couldn't find in any other alert system. I wanted to find a way for this "alert" to stay on him SAFELY. He was a "put-everything-in-his-mouth" kinda kid. I couldn't imagine putting a bracelet on him! And then, he had eczema (still does) and I didn't need anything irritating his skin.

Then I came up with the med pouch that could store his EpiPen along with the forms that had more detailed information (that includes most of the information Sandie suggests in her post, btw.) It's a small bag that can hold his epinephrine and antihistamine, it has an Emergency Action Plan and Consent to Treat form that can both be personalized for your child, with a space to include a picture. You can also clearly mark the bag itself with your child's name, it can be clipped to a backpack or stored in a binder at school. I tried to cover all the bases!

You can download a FREE copies of the form here and use it with your own allergy kit!

I noticed how parents would just bring snacks for their kids to classrooms or at the babysitting room at the gym. I wasn't always there when someone walked in with a bag of chex mix. I included the door hanger in the kit too.

I knew at least three families in my immediate circle who had nut allergies so I wanted to be able to share my solution with them. And I knew that the only way to really keep my son safe was to raise awareness for the issue on a bigger level. So there you have it... the whole story of how Check My Tag came to be.

But it's really just the beginning. Food allergy management is a way of life and it's not just about medical alerts for toddlers. It's about teaching my son how to keep himself safe. It's about teaching both my kids how to eat healthy food. I find myself moving to the next level and partnering with complementary businesses, like Macaroni and Peas.

I'd love to hear how a food allergy has changed you or your children's lives too.

Concluding Our Series on Section 504 Plans

2008-10-11T01:04:00.004-05:00

Wrapping up our series on Section 504 Plans, I want to encourage you to share your experiences. I have received messages from many families who have been frustrated by resistance and others who are just starting the process and not sure how to proceed. I think there's potential for us to learn from each other!

How have you dealt with school buses or aftercare? What about field trips? For dual income families who can't always chaperone or be at school on a regular basis, what do you do? What unexpected snags have you encountered during the plan development process? Have you worked with an attorney specializing in education law or special needs advocacy?

If you missed our last month of posts on Section 504 Plans for Food Allergies, here are the links.
Section 504 Plans and Food Allergies: An Introduction
Why Develop a Section 504 Plan for Your Child with Food Allergies
How to Develop a Section 504 Plan for Your Child with Food Allergies
How to Enforce a Section 504 Plan for Food Allergies

Things to Come
We are engaging in a "blog duet" with Macaroni and Peas, a company that offers one on one meal plan coaching and specializes in food allergy families! Cool, huh? First, read their article on creating an Allergy Kit. If you have any thoughts, post a comment here or send me a message and I will integrate that into a blog post next week. Let's begin the CONVERSATION!

How to Enforce a Section 504 Plan for Food Allergies

2008-10-07T10:58:00.005-05:00

So you've gone through the trouble of developing a Section 504 Plan... what happens if there is a violation? It may not be as serious as an actual allergic emergency at school but maybe he/she is suddenly not allowed in the lunchroom although the plan specifically states that he will not be excluded from normal school activities. Or, once the school year starts you find that a nut-free table has not been designated in the cafeteria. Again, Kathy Van Voorhees suggests ascribing the best intentions and approaching the administrators from the point of view that it was an oversight, which it might very well have been. "We agreed that having a separate nut-free table is the most practical solution to ensuring my child's safety during lunch. Will one be there tomorrow?"

If a situation occurred that was not anticipated by either you or the school, use it as an opportunity to revisit the plan. Hmmm... can't think of an example for this one. If you have one, please leave a comment!

Again, expect the best but if the situation goes sour, having the 504 Plan gives you protection. Violations can be reported to your state's Parent Advocacy Center. Terri Mauro, About.com's Special Needs writer has a great article on How to Report a 504 Violation. I know this may seem like being caught between a rock and hard place because the last thing you want is to create an adversarial relationship between you and the people who you are entrusting with your child's protection for most of the day but... when push comes to shove, 504 violations are federal, falling under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Department of Education. The Office of Civil Rights has an online complaint form or you can contact the OCR office serving your state or territory.

For more FAQ's on 504's, Terri's article is a great resource!

Read our whole series on Section 504 Plans:
Section 504 Plans and Food Allergies: An Introduction
Why Develop a Section 504 Plan for Your Child with Food Allergies
How to Develop a Section 504 Plan for Your Child with Food Allergies
Concluding our Series on Section 504 Plans

How to Develop a Section 504 Plan for Your Child with Food Allergies

2008-09-30T14:27:00.003-05:00

A Section 504 Plan does NOT have to be drafted by an attorney and is most often developed by families with the input of school administrators. Kathy suggests seeking out as much input from the school as possible, since having their buy-in will make it much easier to enforce compliance later on. As your child's advocate, try to brainstorm all the possible scenarios that could take place during school hours and include those in the plan. The Food Allergy Initiative's outline is a great place to start but make sure to customize it for your needs. Does the school have a full time or part time nurse? Will your child get transported to another facility for activities or special programs? What procedures must be followed for off-campus activities like field trips? What happens during fire drills?

It is common for food allergy parents to send a letter home to other parents in their child's class informing them of the situation and asking them to refrain from sending the offending allergens as snacks. FYI, Kathy says this is usually considered beyond the scope of a 504 Plan and is an extra precaution that parents take on themselves.

Allow adequate time to develop the plan with school administrators. Kathy recommends beginning the process in the spring of the previous school year from when your child will be enrolled. This will give you time to get to know the people with whom you will be working to ensure your child's safety and well-being. Kathy suggests proposing a Section 504 Plan as a tool that is helpful for the school too since it creates a common protocol. In the best instances, the principal/administrator will already have had some experience with 504 plans or even better, 504 plans for food allergies. It doesn't hurt to assume the best! ... "I want to develop a Section 504 Plan for my child with life-threatening food allergies. Can I see what you have done before in similar situations?"

Start your networking at the school. Hey, by the time our kids are entering kindergarten, us food allergy parents are experts at educating caregivers, right? Go in person and start to invest in relationships with people who will directly affect your child's daily experience. Get answers to all your questions... is there a full-time nurse on staff? Is someone trained in food allergy management or in administering an epinephrine auto-injector? Where are meals served/prepared. Yes, don't forget the lunch ladies!!!

If you meet with resistance or a school administrator who has not had any prior experience with food allergies, enlist the help of your allergist. Bring in documentation (like a letter) that explains why your child needs special accommodations. Kathy explains that resistance comes with the territory. School administrators are juggling so many agendas that every unusual circumstance is often perceived as an added burden, which is why approaching the plan as something that will help them is often well received. Tap into your networks to make this as easy and turnkey for them as possible. Check with members of your local support group to see if they have 504 Plans for their kids. Bringing copies as examples may be helpful too. If teachers and staff are in need of food allergy management training, see if you have a local AAFA chapter or other group that will conduct the training. AAFA specifically does this at no cost to the school! Take on the responsibility of drafting the document, with the principal's input of course.

Once all parties are comfortable with the plan and it is finalized, have it signed by you, the principal, and the school nurse or whoever is designated as the first responder in case of an allergic emergency. Kathy suggests Make 3-4 ORIGINALS! (one for school office, one for nurse's office, one in the classroom, and one for you). Also make copies that you can keep with you during school hours (in your office, in your spouse's office, etc.) so that if an incident occurs, it will be accessible.

Related Links
Section 504 Plans and Food Allergies: An Introduction
Why Develop a Section 504 Plan for Your Child with Food Allergies
How to Enforce a Section 504 Plan for Food Allergies
Concluding our Series on Section 504 Plans

Why Develop a Section 504 Plan for Your Child with Food Allergies?

2008-09-26T20:39:00.001-05:00

In my opinion, it is not always necessary to develop a 504 plan. It greatly depends on the severity of your child's allergy and your relationship with your child's school administrators and teachers. The school may already have a food allergy management policy in place that meets the needs of your family. So I would ascertain the situation before trying to wade through all the red tape of Section 504.

Technically, a 504 plan doesn't have to be written and the parents don't have to sign off on it but rather it is something the school districts can develop on their own. This makes little sense to me since they are individualized plans for specific students and why a school would do it without the knowledge and consent of a parent... is a mystery to me. Kathy Van Voorhees of Van Voorhees Law advocates for a written plan so that standardized food allergy management protocol can be communicated to all teachers and staff that might be in contact with your child or may be entrusted with the care of your child during the school day. This includes after care arrangements and transportation personnel.

The plan really benefits both the school and the family, because it can facilitate communication between both parties and minimize misunderstandings. If coached appropriately, it can be a process that builds bridges between the administrators and parents, who (in the best cases) are both looking out for the best interest of the children involved.

The plan gives families recourse if an allergic incident were to happen in school. Having a plan in place sends a signal to school personnel regarding the seriousness of the risk.

Related Links
Section 504 Plans and Food Allergies: An Introduction
How to Develop a Section 504 Plan for Your Child with Food Allergies
How to Enforce a Section 504 Plan for Food Allergies
Concluding our Series on Section 504 Plans

Section 504 and Food Allergies

2008-09-17T11:15:00.003-05:00

An Introduction
In the U.S., a food allergy may be considered a disability under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. If you are new to the food allergy world, you may be wondering what this means for you. Essentially, if you have a child with a severe food allergy that is attending a school that receives federal funding, you and the school can develop a Section 504 Plan for your child. This plan would outline accommodations that need to be made to provide a safe learning environment for him/her. But not all food allergy kids may need or qualify for a Section 504 Plan.

Section 504 is a civil rights law designed to prohibit discrimination in an educational program on the basis of a disability because students with a disability are by law afforded a “free and appropriate public education.” To be protected under Section 504 and Title II, a student must: 1) have a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities; 2) have a record of such an impairment, or 3) be regarded as having such an impairment. Section 504 requires that school districts provide a free appropriate public education (FAPE) to qualified students with disabilities in the school district’s jurisdiction, regardless of the nature or severity of their disability. School districts satisfy their Title II obligations in educating students with disabilities by complying with the FAPE requirements of Section 504.

Yikes! That's a lot of really complex language up there! I met with Kathy Van Voorhees of Van Voorhees Law yesterday regarding Section 504 plans. As an attorney that specializes in the education sector, she gave me some great advice and insight. In the coming weeks, I will be providing the details of our discussion, including the benefits of a 504 Plan, what to expect when working with school administrators, advice on how to approach schools, how to plan ahead for your discussions, and how to enforce your plan.

In the meantime, The Food Allergy Initiative has a great Section 504 Outline that was developed by a food allergy parent.

Related Links
Why Develop a Section 504 Plan for Your Child with Food Allergies
How to Develop a Section 504 Plan for Your Child with Food Allergies
How to Enforce a Section 504 Plan for Food Allergies
Concluding our Series on Section 504 Plans

EMT's, Epinephrine and Food Allergies

2008-09-09T22:08:00.002-05:00

During an outing in Forest Park yesterday, we had a spontaneous visit with Fireman Adam of Ladder 28. Tanner and I excitedly explained that they are our FAVORITE firetruck, primarily because we see them in our neighborhood often and their 28 is festively embellished with stars and stripes. As a thank you for being extra neighborly to a woman with a flat tire, Adam offered T a chance to sit in the cab and honk the horn! This is all relevant to food allergies, I swear....

As Tanner was playing with the remote control fire hose, Adam explained that yes, we lived in their district and were routinely deployed for medical calls. He explained that often, firetrucks can get to a call faster than the ambulance which is why they will respond to medical emergencies. So I told him about Tanner's food allergy and he said yes, every fireman is also an EMT and that the truck is equipped with epinephrine and benadryl. I wanted to confirm what I had heard a few years ago, though, that only those with advanced life support training were authorized to administer epinephrine. Adam said that was true. If a patient is conscious and can self-administer the epi-pen, a regular EMT can "assist." But if they are unconscious, the EMT/firefighter can only start and IV or do other things to try to stabilize the person until the advanced life support team gets there. Yet another reason to make sure you and all caregivers are equipped, trained and authorized to give your little one a shot, if necessary.