<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>> All reasons listed in the following post are reasonable, however, would any hospital, nursing home, or school, argue with you if you stated you had celiac disease? Any time I've visited the urgent care at my HMO, or an emergency room and they've asked me if I had any allergies or pre-existing conditions and I tell them celiac disease and wheat allergy and they've never asked me for proof. If you enroll a child in school and tell the school your child is allergic to peanuts or milk or bee stings, the school doesn't require you to prove it, so why should it be any different for celiac? I've found that people in general take me at my word and the majority are interested and ask for more info, even health care providers. Just my two cents worth. Karen