Celiac at MCPS

[Anonymous]

My daughter is most likely celiac (need to do endoscopy but blood work came back with indications of such). She is currently in 1st grade. How is MCPS about dealing with Celiac? If needed how do we start the 504 process? Especially at the beginning I think she’ll need support from school to not eat things she can’t anymore. This is so stressful and knowing I’ll not have a lot of control at school is even more so. Anyone have experience?

[Anonymous]

I would not rely on lunch time staff to monitor her eating. You have to really implore her to never eat anything you did not send. Certainly provide her teacher with appropriate alternative food for class room events.

[Anonymous]

Pack her lunch.

[Anonymous]

Yeah, the school cafeteria can’t really accommodate that in my 1st grader’s MCPS elementary. My kid doesn’t really like the cafeteria food anyway, you’ll need to pack it, let the school know, let the teacher know, and perhaps let the room parent know so they can share with other parents that someone in the class has celiac…my DH has it so if your kid were in my kid’s class, it’s easy for me to send in celiac friendly treats…but I’d need to know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My daughter is most likely celiac (need to do endoscopy but blood work came back with indications of such). She is currently in 1st grade. How is MCPS about dealing with Celiac? If needed how do we start the 504 process? Especially at the beginning I think she’ll need support from school to not eat things she can’t anymore. This is so stressful and knowing I’ll not have a lot of control at school is even more so. Anyone have experience?

Write a letter to the counselor requesting an 504 Eligibility Meeting and attach the doctor’s report confirming dx and his recommendations for accommodations.

[Anonymous]

Definitely send a stack of alternative snacks for the teacher to have ready-- in case kids bring birthday treats or for school parties and the like.

[Anonymous]

I would not trust the schools on this one. It’s similar to having a child with a nut allergy. You send packed lunch, you send packed snack, you give the teacher a bunch of prepackaged treats to hand your kid in case there is a class treat. Make sure that teachers, lunch room workers, school nurse, etc. Know that your child never eats anything that you did not send in.

I guess you can do a 504 but that is not the most important step since you do not want the school giving her any food whatsoever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My daughter is most likely celiac (need to do endoscopy but blood work came back with indications of such). She is currently in 1st grade. How is MCPS about dealing with Celiac? If needed how do we start the 504 process? Especially at the beginning I think she’ll need support from school to not eat things she can’t anymore. This is so stressful and knowing I’ll not have a lot of control at school is even more so. Anyone have experience?

Write a letter to the counselor requesting an 504 Eligibility Meeting and attach the doctor’s report confirming dx and his recommendations for accommodations.

What would you request? A lunch aide? Or just documentation of the condition?

[Anonymous]

Our school has lots of kids with all sorts of food issues. Most of them don't have 504s.

[Anonymous]

I am the mom of a child with celiac. Plan to send in all food. You can ask them to keep some packaged treats on hand for treats. You and your daughter will learn how to manage this over time. It can be challenging but it’s easier in some ways than an allergy since an accident doesn’t result in an ER visit.

[Anonymous]

Mom of celiac here and agreeing strongly with advice above to pack lunches.

[Anonymous]

Schools cannot adequately accomodate for dietary needs plan to provide all food and send it in.

[Anonymous]

What accomodation would the 504 say? Agree woth others - you just need to send in food

[Anonymous]

504 could say

Need prior notice to food in class to accommodate

No outside food without parent approval

No access to gluten containing materials(example paper mache) without parent notification

Ability to makeup schoolwork due to Celiac illness, accidental exposure, medical appointments.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My daughter is most likely celiac (need to do endoscopy but blood work came back with indications of such). She is currently in 1st grade. How is MCPS about dealing with Celiac? If needed how do we start the 504 process? Especially at the beginning I think she’ll need support from school to not eat things she can’t anymore. This is so stressful and knowing I’ll not have a lot of control at school is even more so. Anyone have experience?

Write a letter to the counselor requesting an 504 Eligibility Meeting and attach the doctor’s report confirming dx and his recommendations for accommodations.

What would you request? A lunch aide? Or just documentation of the condition?

Document the condition.
For ES, you might want a dedicated table that is gluten-free while your child is eating.
All staff should be aware so that they don’t give your child a snack or leave surfaces unwiped.

When you get to MS, there’s accommodations at Outdoor Ed.

I teach MS and have two kids of my own with food allergies. MCPS is hit or miss with these particular special needs. This year, I have many students with celiac or food allergies, but MCPS won’t supply me with wipes so I can’t allow any snacking in my room. However, I also have other students with accommodations to have a snack in class so I have to send them into the hallway to eat and then wash their hands.