Resources for Parents Navigating the School System
Navigating the school system can be very difficult for families with Celiac Disease and Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity. Currently Celiac Disease is covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. One helpful thing that parents and students can do is to file a 504 plan with their school each year.
All public schools and even colleges are required to abide by section 504. The steps to getting a 504 plan in place may vary by school but essentially include:
-Requesting a letter from your child’s doctor about their diagnosis and required gluten free diet.
-Find out who the 504 coordinator is at the school (could be various people) and schedule a meeting. The meeting will be to discuss the plan. Come prepared to the meeting with what exactly you would like the school to do for your child. Also ask for all the teachers that will be interacting with your child to present so everyone is one the same page. Provide them all with copies of the plan.
Implementing the plan will require constant communication with the teachers, staff and parents of the schools throughout the year.
Developing a 504 Plan
Here are several resources that give detailed instructions on developing a 504 plan to provide the school with:
Celiac Foundation Model 504 Plan & Back to School Guide
Link to 504 Plan Template (Will Automatically Download upon Clicking)
ADA and Section 504 Definitions:
The ADA is a “federal civil rights law that gives protections to individuals with disabilities similar to those provided to individuals on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age, and religion. It guarantees equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities in public accommodations, employment, transportation, State and local government services, and telecommunications. The ADA expanded the definition of disability by introducing a new, non-exhaustive list of major life activities that include: caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, seeing, hearing, eating, sleeping, walking, standing, lifting, bending, speaking, breathing, learning, reading, concentrating, thinking, communicating, and working. Also for the first time, the ADAA has stated that major life activities will include the operation of major bodily functions, including but not limited to functions of the immune system; normal cell growth; and digestive, bowel, bladder, neurological, brain, respiratory, circulatory, endocrine, and reproductive functions.”
“Section 504 of the rehabilitation act of 1973 a federal civil rights statue is designed to prohibit discrimination on the basis of a disability in an educational program or institution. This prohibition extends to any educational institution accepting federal funds. Students with disabilities under this act are afforded accommodations and modifications to their educational program to ensure equal access.”