<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>>

This applies to all public schools, pre-school through 12th grade.

    Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

    The term child with a "disability" under Part B of the Individuals with
Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) means a child evaluated in accordance with
IDEA as having one or more of the recognized thirteen disability categories and
who, by reason thereof, needs special education and related services.

    IDEA recognizes thirteen disability categories which establish a child's
need for special education and related services.  These disabilities include:

"   autism;
"   deaf-blindness;
"   deafness or other hearing impairments;
"   mental retardation;
"   orthopedic impairments;
"   other health impairments due to chronic or acute health problems, such as
asthma, diabetes, nephritis, sickle cell anemia, a heart condition, epilepsy,
rheumatic fever, hemophilia, leukemia, lead poisoning, tuberculosis;
"   emotional disturbance;
"   specific learning disabilities;
"   speech or language impairment;
"   traumatic brain injury; and
"   visual impairment; including blindness which adversely affects a child's
educational performance, and
"   multiple disabilities.

    Attention deficit disorder or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
may fall under one of the thirteen categories.  Classification depends upon the
particular characteristics associated with the disorder and how the condition
manifests itself in the student, which will determine the category.

    The Individualized Education Program or IEP means a written statement for
a child with a disability that is developed, reviewed, and revised in
accordance with the IDEA and its implementing regulations.  The IEP is the
cornerstone of the student's educational program that contains the program of special
education and related services to be provided to a child with a disability
covered under the IDEA.


    4

    NOTE:  Some states supplement the IEP with a written statement
specifically designed to address a student's nutritional needs.  Other states employ a
"Health Care Plan" to address the nutritional needs of their students.  For
ease of reference, the term "IEP" is used to reflect the IEP as well as any
written statement designating the required nutrition services.

    When nutrition services are required under a child's IEP, school
officials need to make sure that school food service staff are involved early on in
decisions regarding special meals.


    Physician's Statement for Children with Disabilities

    USDA regulations 7 CFR Part 15b require substitutions or modifications in
school meals for children whose disabilities restrict their diets.  A child
with a disability must be provided substitutions in foods when that need is
supported by a statement signed by a licensed physician.  The physician's
statement must identify:

4   the child's disability;
4   an explanation of why the disability restricts the child's diet;
4   the major life activity affected by the disability;
4   the food or foods to be omitted from the child's diet, and the food or
choice of foods that must be substituted.

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