Parents are challenging their school systems concerning their celiac child’s right to a hot lunch provided by the school (at the same price as a regular student lunch). Section 504 of the rehabilitation act of 1973 is a federal law designed to protect the rights of individuals with disabilities in programs that receive financial assistance from the U.S. Dept of Education. Under section 504 the schools are required to prepare and serve at least one SAFE meal per day to the student. What this means for celiac kids is that the food must be gluten free and prepared in a separate area of the cafeteria with separate utensils.
To qualify for special dietary accommodations under the school lunch program a child will need to have his or her disability documented. How you do that will depend on the requirements of the school district and the specific state. You can begin the process by requesting a 504 evaluation.
It is important to remember that decisions must be made on a case by case basis. In some cases only the state or school form is required. A 504 plan provides accountability. Without a written 504 plan you may end up without any documentation that shows your schools responsibility for meeting your child’s needs. If something happens where your child becomes ill because he or she ate something with gluten, and you don’t have a 504 plan in place…. a verbal agreement with your child’s teacher is not enough, even if he or she is accommodating. The 504 plan ENSURES (in writing) that guidelines are in place and gives you a starting point if something goes wrong.
You can find more information and a sample 504 plan for your celiac kid here.
