Inclusive Ann Arbor
So your child has a food intolerance or an allergy, and attends school. This can be a concerning situation for many families, as students will be potentially or definitely exposed to their particular allergen every day, five days a week.
Food allergies are serious and often all-encompassing. Up to 1 out of 13 children have food allergies, and many more than that have intolerances. Here are some tips to best protect your child:
Talk to your doctor about a written plan
These plans can have different names: food allergy action plan, emergency care plan, etc. Your child’s doctor will fill it out with the precise information the school needs to protect your child with their allergy, such as administering their EpiPen. This plan should include a medication authorization, which your school will need to give your child medicine.
This written plan from your doctor is important regardless of the route you take in school to keep your child safe.
Know your child’s rights
Your child has the right to a safe public, equal access education via a 504 plan (Section 504). The Michigan Administrative Rules for Special Education detail how Michigan approaches accommodations for students.
Schools must ensure their staff receives training and your child’s emergency medicine is available to be administered. You can ask about their training, such as, does it cover how to use an EpiPen? Are they trained in emergencies only, or do they understand concerns about cross-contamination?
You’ll need an individual health care plan, a 504, or an IEP (Individualized Education Program) to best protect your child.
Individual health care plans (discussed below) are more casual and best for a school that’s already experienced in allergens. For 504s vs IEPs, both support a student who has disabilities.
The IEP provides instruction tailored for your student, but 504 addresses and removes specific barriers so your child can learn from the curriculum already in use.
504s are generally easier to get, while IEPs’ eligibility is more specific. 504s do not provide special equipment or funding.
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IEPs are generally considered to have more legal protections and resolution options over disputes for families.
When you don’t need a 504 or an IEP: the simplest solution
Even if your child has a food allergy, they might only need an “individual health care plan” if your particular school has effective policies already in place for handling food allergies, is responsive to parent requests, fully staffed with a full-time nurse, etc.
But if your school’s current policies won’t adequately protect your child, then it’s time to look at a 504 or IEP.
IEPs in school
To qualify for an IEP, your child’s food allergy would be qualified under “other health impairment” and require the child to need modified instruction.
This might look like specialized lesson materials (e.g. avoiding food-based products in science or sensory activities, such as play-doh or egg cartons), a child with food allergies that interacts with some other part of their health (such as sensory processing concerns, autism, food therapy), or other changes.
To initiate the process, you request a special education evaluation, and if you disagree with those results, you can ask for an independent education evaluation.
If your child is eligible, your child’s IEP team will work, together with you, to help determine what your child needs and what they can provide to ensure your child is achieving appropriate academic goals. The IEP will look at your child’s yearly academic goals, the accommodations/modifications they’ll need, where they’re currently at academically and more.
If your child is not eligible for an IEP, they may be eligible for a 504.
504s in school
504s accommodate and protect a wider swathe of children, since 504s focus on accommodations (such as EpiPen access or allergen-free tables).
To initiate the process, request a copy of your school’s policies on 504, and write to your child’s school requesting an evaluation on your child in your specific area(s) of concern to address if it impacts your child’s learning or behavior at school.
Similar to the IEP process, you can request a special education evaluation first–and you can request an independent education evaluation if you don’t agree with the response.
The information that’s gathered during the evaluation process will be used to look at a 504 plan if your child is deemed eligible, which will document the accommodations your child needs to be successful at school.
For food allergies, this may look like:
Using wheat-free play-doh;
Allowing your child to carry their own allergy medicine;
Bringing and having safe storage for their own lunch at school;
And using non-food rewards.
All of these plans are designed to help your child with a food allergy be able to focus on academics and socialization at school, rather than worrying about staying safe. And that’s the goal!
