My child has a life threatening peanut allergy- do I need an IEP or a 504 Plan for her when she starts school?

Question

Can someone please explain which is preferred for a food allergy? She does not have any other "disabilities" other than the peanut allergy. I'm meeting with the principal soon and would like to know what I'm talking about and which will best ensure her safety at school.

There is a lot of info online, but I'd prefer if someone could explain it in layman's terms. Thank you very much.

Answer 1

I don't think you will need anything specific, those are geared towards learning disabilities.  All you should need (I assume she has an epi pen) is a form that allows the school to have and administer the meds at school if needed.  It is a form that her doctor needs to fill out simply stating what the med is, who it is for, how it is to be administered with the doctor's name, phone, address.  It's proof that there is an actual prescription.   The school nurse is trained in medication distribution, as will be a few other school employees.  The teacher will be informed of her allergy, as will the kitchen manager.  

I am an After School Program Site Coordinator.  There is a child in my program who also has this type of allergy to nuts.  I specifically took a medication distribution class for this reason.  I wanted to be trained in the event that this child needed his epi pen.  Our school nurse is also trained.  Also, I have known the kitchen manager at our school for 12 years.  She knows all the kids at school by name, and she knows who has what allergies....she's very good.  She checks their trays as they go out to make sure they don't have something harmful.  Also, when they do serve something that she knows a child is allergic to, she prepares a special tray for them that she knows is not only safe, but something that child really likes.  

Just make sure the teacher is informed and that she informs any parents that plan to bring in snacks or treats to class.

Answer 2

Talk to a doctor. You should not rely on strangers online to tell you what to do when it comes to your child's health.

Answer 3

No, you don't need an IEP or 504 plan. When you meet with the principal, have him ensure you that everyone invovled in your child's education knows of this allergy.

Does your child know she has this allergy? I don't know if this is necessary, but can you get a med bracelet saying that she is allergic to it? This way, if she's around someone who doesn't know her - they automatically know she's allergic.

Answer 4

Your child does not qualify for either a 504 plan or an IEP.  Those are for students with disabilities that cannot access the curriculum without assistance, whether it be in the form of a modified curriculum or accommadations. An allergy is not something that would keep her from progressing in the general curriculum, as the only time she would be impacted is when she is having an allergy attack.

Your daughter's principal and teachers need to be made aware of her allergies in order to keep her from ingesting anything that could harm her.  This will be particularly important if she eats cafeteria meals. Your doctor should also help you create a list of anything that will cause her to have a reaction.  I say this because many products do not have peanuts, but are created in factories with peanut products.  The school must be aware of these items. Your daughter should also have an ID bracelet or necklace which states her allergy.

Students in your daughter's class should not be allowed to bring homemade treats to school.  The teacher will probably let parents assisting in class parties know a student has a peanut allergy, but will not mention a name so that any foods given will be safe.

Most important is making sure your child is aware of her allergy and will not eat anything given to her by other students.  Kids like to share treats and your daughter needs to be able to say no when offered candy or cookies from her classmates.  I know this will be hard if she's young.

Good luck to you!!

Answer 5

It's like this. If your daughter, because of her disability, requires a special education teacher to adapt the curriculum for her because she needs this kind of assistance to benefit from her education, then you want an IEP. If she does not need specially designed instruction, she does not need Special Education and she does not qualify for it.

With her peanut allergy, I'm thinking all she needs is a 504 Plan. Don't get an IEP if you don't need it. If nothing else, the extra paperwork burden takes time away from actually providing for the needs of your child.

Answer 6

Your child will not qualify for an IEP under the IDEA.   Depending on the severity of her allergy, she may qualify as disabled under Section 504.  Generally, a student with an allergy would not qualify as disabled under 504 unless a licensed physician certifies that the student has a severe, life-threatending anaphylactic reaction to a food allergy.  If this is the case, the student may qualify as disabled as it relates to that particular allergy and therefore may need a 504 plan to address some of the accommodation mentioned above, if they are needed, as determined by relevant members of the  team drafting the plan (i.e. special meals, notice and prohibition of certain foods in the classroom, reduction of in-class parties and celebrations where there is an increased risk for students and parents bringing in goods with unknown ingredients, precautions to prevent food swapping, and designation of trained faculty/staff to administer medication in case of a serious allergic reaction).

Answer 7

People here are saying you don't need IEP or 504 plan.  They aer WRONG because schools do NOT have to LEGALLY provide help to ANY child UNLESS the child has a 504 plan or IEP plan.  

They can 'say' they will help without these plans, but if they do they can stop at any time and you can't do a thing about it.  With IEP or 504 plan you have the legal protection and the school HAS to follow the plan. If they don't do what is on the plan you can take further action like filing complaints to make sure they help your child.

If you don't have IEP or 504 plan and they don't help her after they 'say' they will, you can't file complaints or anything because there is nothing in writing to show they are suppose to help her.

Yes the nurse can have you fill out paperwork to show what needs to be done for your child but if child is not under the protection of 504 (which is part of the ADA  'americans with disabilties act)  this paperwork can NOT be used to  MAKE them do what they are suppose to do.

Yes she DOES need a 504 plan and NOT an IEP plan.

IEP's are for learning disabilities, 504 is for accomodations and modifications.

Write a list of all you think the school should do to accomodate her problems so you won't forget anything.

A bullet list is easy to understand.

BEFORE school starts for her, you can write to school principal and request a 504 meeting to have the 504  in place when she starts school.

Take this list to the meeting. Also write a letter of everything you think the school should know about her and tell them to put a copy of that letter in her permanent education file so everyone there will know waht to do .  (that is, if they even look at her file)

They will make what is called a '504 plan' in the 504 meeting  that lists EVERYTHING you think your child needs. DO NOT let them write the words  'as needed' or 'when necessary'  on this list. THey like to do this so they can say it's NEVER needed so they can get out of doing what they should do.

Schools do not have to help any child with any problems UNLESS the child has IEP or 504 plan. Most schools will fight like crazy to keep a child from getting a 504 or IEP plan.

If you have problems with them, call your state dept of education and ask for the liason that handles problems for your school district.