8. 504 Plan and Celiac Disease Gluten Free You and Me

 
Do you need a 504 plan with Celiac Disease and being 100% gluten free?
 
What I first thought of a 504 plan
I was told it was my right
That I was entitled to it
And for all those that know me… know that I do not feel entitled to anything. I am not 
the victim. I will not play into that role.
 
What I learned since then learned that a 504 Plan is…
to protect our child
educate staff
hold them accountable for their treatment towards our children
to help plan for the year
prepared for emergencies and every day life
to make sure that staff and students have a positive attitude toward my child
to make sure my child doesn’t take advantage of the situation either.
 
 
TEACH YOUR CHILD TO BE THEIR OWN ADVOCATE. PRACTICE. ROLE PLAY. BUILD CONFIDENCE.
 
What is a 504 Plan 
 
(a lot of what I am resourcing and quoting from today from BeyondCeliac.org)
 
A 504 plan stems from Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. This section prevents discrimination against public school students in grades K through 12 because of disabilities. A 504 plan is meant to “remove barriers” to learning by providing a specific outline on how to make accommodations or modifications on a student-by-student basis.
What’s the Rehabilitation Act of 1973?
The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 applies to all institutions receiving federal financial assistance, such as public schools. Under this law, public schools must provide a free, appropriate public education and not discriminate against disabled students.
This law acknowledges that the disability may not require special education services, but a plan is needed to ensure the student receives an appropriate education accommodating the disability within the classroom. This law must accommodate a special diet, including the gluten-free diet for children with celiac disease.
 
Do you have to have a 504 Plan?
 
This decision is entirely up to you as a parent or guardian. Some parents find that informal discussions and accommodations have been sufficient for having the child’s needs met at school. However, having a formal 504 plan in place is valuable, especially as teachers and staffing may change. The 504 plan guarantees by law that your child’s needs are met throughout their school career and not just in certain classrooms. You can choose to utilize your 504 plan accommodations at any time and having them in place before you need them can save important time and resources if your child develops symptoms from gluten exposure or if you are having trouble with consistent accountability.
 
How do you get a 504 plan started?
To get started, you’ll need to contact your child’s school. The 504 plan team should include:
• Primary classroom teacher • School counselor or psychologist
• School nurse • Director of food services
• 504 plan coordinator
You’ll also need a doctor’s note to show that your child has been formally diagnosed with celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity (‘gluten sensitivity’). This note should outline the accommodations required to maintain your child’s health, enabling him or her to have equal access to public education.
 
 
What information is included in a 504 plan?
 
Generally, you’ll need to provide information about your child’s diagnosis and needs, including:
• Year of diagnosis
• Amount of time on a gluten-free diet
• Details on why a 504 plan is needed
(including how a restricted diet affects a major life activity)
• Child’s developmental level and needs (Are they self-reliant in managing the diet? Do they need strict supervision? Etc.)
A 504 plan will specifically outline all of the details of how your child’s celiac disease needs to be managed in the classroom. For example, you and the 504 plan team can develop an action plan for:
• Navigating school lunches • Snacks
• Birthday parties • Art class
The plan will lay out specific accountabilities. Havin