<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>> I am shocked. A public school (and most non-profit private schools) have no choice but to provide a gluten free diet for your child - it falls under federal law. You need to call the state board of education and speak to them. If they receive any federal funds for their lunch program they are risking losing it all if they don't. Here is a link for the National School Lunch Program and below is some info regarding the law. http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/Lunch/AboutLunch/NSLPFactSheet.pdf Law is law, speak up! Karin Gluten-Free School Lunch Guidelines With the help of the United States Department of Agriculture, the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness has developed guidelines to help children and their parents navigate their school's meal program. These guidelines explain federal laws that are applicable to children with celiac disease and provide step-by-step instructions for getting a child set up for special gluten-free meals at school. To download a printable PDF of the guidelines, click the image to the left or the following link: Celiac School Lunch Guidelines. UNDERSTANDING YOUR RIGHTS: Even though you may love to make your child’s lunch everyday, it is very important as a parent to understand what the federal go 0Avernment requires participating school districts to do to accommodate children with food allergies and intolerances. To help you better understand the federal requirements, I contacted Congressman Steve Kagen from W isconsin’s 8th District. Dr. Kagen founded the Kagen Allergy Clinics, which are located throughout the state. He has served as an assistant clinical professor of Allergy-Immunology at the Medical College of Wisconsin and is triple board certified in Internal Medicine, Allergy-Immunology, and Diagnostic Laboratory Immunology. He was also voted one of the “Best Doctors in America,” and CNN named him their Allergy Consultant. kagen.house.gov In addition to representing his constituents in Washington, D.C., Dr. Kagen tries to keep regular appointments with patients at his clinics in Wisconsin, many of who are dealing with celiac disease and other food allergies at school. “The best advice I have for parents is to speak up and become a vocal advocate for their child,” Dr. Kagen said. When Dr. Kagen diagnoses a child with celiac disease or other life-threatening food allergy, he helps the child and parent develop an action plan. The first step involves educating the family on how to manage a special diet at home and at school. He also help the child and parent with writing a letter to the school detailing the exact condition the child has and what he or she can and cannot eat. = 0 A Over the last 25 years, he has found schools to be “very responsive,” especially at the elementary school level. To learn more about Dr. Kagen’s work in Congress and legislative priorities, visit his congressional website=2 0at kagen.house.gov. If you live Wisconsin, please visit www.kagenallergy.net to make an appointment or see one of the clinic’s specialists. Maybe you’ll run into Dr. Kagen! Here’s some basic information that will help you navigate your child’s school. According to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), celiac disease is defined as a disability. The United States Department of Agriculture Food and Agriculture (USDA) has adopted this definition as well, meaning that all children with celiac disease are included under the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service Guidance on Children with Special Dietary Needs. The USDA Child Nutrition Division oversees school lunch programs and requires participating school systems to provide substitutions for all students with food allergies and intolerances that qualify as a disability. What is a Disability? Under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act, a “person with a disability” is defined as any person who has a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activities including eating. Celiac disease falls under this definition. 0D Am ericans with Disabilities Act Comprehensive legislation, signed into law on July 26, 1990, that creates new rights and extends existing rights for Americans with disabilities. Title II of the Act is especially significant for school nutrition programs, as it requires equal availabil ity and accessibility in State and local government programs and services, including public schools—this includes school lunch programs. Basically, this means that students cannot be excluded from school meal programs because of celiac disease. This extends to breakfast, lunch and after school snacks as well at NO extra cost to the student. To qualify for reimbursable meal substitutions, you must set up a 504 plan. To qualify, your child will need a note from a physician certifying that they have celiac disease and explaining what foods need to be avoided and detailing safe substitutions. For more information, please visit the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service’s website at: http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/Lunch/AboutLunch/ProgramHistory_4.htm Participating schools MUST comply or they risk losing federal funding. These items are what schools are REQUIRED to do: Review written documentation from physician detailing information on celiac disease and necessary treatment with a gluten-free diet. Identify a team of school officials that will ensure your child’s safety. This team may include the following: teachers, school nurse, school administrators, ca feteria sta ff, etc. Notify all school personnel that interact with your child about celiac disease and how to ensure your child’s safety. First Steps: Take initiative! Schedule an appointment with your child’s physician before the school year starts. Ask the physician to write a one-page s ummery about celiac disease and the gluten-free diet. Include biographic information on your child, what they cannot eat, and what foods are safe. Make sure your physician signs the document. Present document to school officials Second Steps: Call your child’s school and set up a meeting with the appropriate contacts. Once you explain your child’s needs, school officials should begin setting up a team for you to meet with. At your meeting, make sure to discuss the following: What celiac disease is and how it affects your child. What foods your child can’t have (WHEAT, BARLEY AND RYE). How to prevent contamination. What to look for if your child eats gluten and a reaction occurs. Ask for a copy of school menu and discuss modifications with food service director. These are basic steps to help you get started! If you need more help, please call your physician or the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness. * Support summarization of posts, reply to the SENDER not the CEL-KIDS List *