<<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.

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