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This is a bit long.  It's a complicated story but I tried to keep it short.
Maybe one of you has had a similar experience or you know someone who can
help with this.


I live in Buffalo Grove, IL.  I have a 3.5 yr old son with celiac
disease.  Noah
qualified at our school district for special education services of speech
therapy and occupational therapy.  The school offered him a slot in their
pre-school program where his therapies could be provided.  My husband and I
declined that offer because the classroom is not gf and Noah’s current
preschool has made him a gf environment.  We have been fighting with the
district since mid-October to get Noah some safe therapy.



Eventually they did offer to provide him w just the OT and speech therapies-
here's the problem- they will give him the services in a small group of up
to 3 children at the table.  They will wash down the tables and will all
wash their hands-- but then only Noah will have gf supplies while the other
kids use gluten supplies.  Noah is still very oral (he tried to eat a crayon
just last week) and this creates a really dangerous situation for him.  And
then even the therapist will be gluten contaminated and how can she actually
treat Noah??



*The district insists that they do not need to comply w the ADA *and it
seems they may be correct.  They won't even discuss with us what the
supplies are in the therapy room that may be gluten containing.  Wording in
the ADA is that modifications because of disability cannot significantly
alter the program- but using Crayola and Elmer’s products doesn’t seem like
a significant alteration.



We tried to file a complaint w the ADA and they will not take it because
they do not investigate public schools.  We tried the Department of
Education Office of Civil Rights and they will not investigate for the same
reason.  Now, we have filed a due process lawsuit against our district but
we don't really know the legalities or how to proceed.



We are looking for an attorney or an ADA specialist or a special education
specialist who may be able to help us.  It seems like this is a really
relevant issue for a lot of various celiac disease and gf organizations but
we can't find anyone who wants to get involved.



We are open to any suggestions you may have. Please consider forwarding this
to people you know, as possibly somewhere we can find someone with
experience in this matter.


I can be reached at [log in to unmask]

-- 
I blog about living gluten free in north suburban Chicago here:
www.glutenfreelakecountyillinois.blogspot.com

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