It's Time! Are You Ready for “Back-to-School†with Food Allergies?
by Caroline Moassessi, FAACT’s Vice President of Community Relations
Happy Back-to-School season! Let’s kick off a great new school year by loading up your food allergy lunch box with some of the best tools in town from FAACT. Check out the tools below for important tips. Don’t forget that your most potent tool is transparent, open, and consistent communication. This is the glue that holds good planning together!
Everyone wants to keep their families safe while enjoying the best year ever! But where do you start after printing out your student’s updated Allergy and Anaphylaxis Emergency Plan? Let us walk you through our resources.
Important Back-to-School Tools
- Grab your civil rights tools first. Food allergies are considered a disability when it comes to school, and your student has the right to a free and appropriate education (FAPE). Visit FAACT’s Civil Rights Advocacy Center to learn more. Highlights include;
- Americans with Disabilities Act: Learn about your rights to support your child’s needs in school. This section features key resource links and examples of legal cases involving food allergies in preschool and college.
- Section 504 Plans: Offers essential information about 504 plans plus best practices, a list of sample accommodations, sample doctor’s letters, and information about how to contact the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights.
- Individuals with Disabilities Education Act: If your student is eligible for an Individualized Education Program (IEP), FAACT has you covered! Visit FAACT’s Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) web page for resources created just for you.
- Podcasts: Stuck in traffic? Listen to the latest FAACT’s Roundtable Podcast, including school accommodation-focused topics.
- Mental health and well-being are easy to overlook when you are razor focused on food allergy accommodations. But without adult and child well-being, things can get tough!
- Check out this article packed with tips to beat the Back-to-School Blues.
- Gems in FAACT’s Behavioral Health Resource Center are:
- Resilience reigns! Visit our Resilience and Food Allergies page to download FAACT’s popular My Food Allergy Resilience Kit plus activities to help build resilience.
- Engage with FAACT and fellow food allergy families in person or on social media to learn new ideas, find support, or share your own tips and tricks.
- Follow FAACT on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok, Threads, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
- If you have a teen in the family, the FAACT Teen Retreat 2023 offers a very special opportunity for the entire family (siblings welcome). Teens meet new friends while adults connect with fellow parents on a deeper level than through traditional conferences. Limited spots are available. Learn more at FAACT’s Teen Retreat 2023 Overview. Let’s say that words like “inspiring,” “empowerment,” “friendship,” ”understanding,” and “heartfelt support” describe the retreat. Act now: THE EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT ENDS AUGUST 5!
- Connect with other parents in FAACT’s Parents of High School and College Students with Food Allergies private Facebook group. This group is a safe space for parents to share experiences and seek and offer support. No solicitations or self-promoting allowed. Middle-school parents may join as observers for a peek into the next school phase.
- Share knowledge with teachers, coaches, and other people who will interact with your student with a few easy-to-understand food allergy awareness resources.
- FAACT’s Food Allergies and School web pages are your one-stop shop for medically reviewed resources for your child’s school plus free downloads and information.
- To teach school staff about food allergies, FAACT offers a comprehensive School Curricula Program for Students featuring teacher-designed PowerPoint presentations, lesson plans, and activities.
- Bullying at school can affect students with food allergies. Learn how to identify and respond to food allergy bullying in FAACT’s Bullying section.
We leave you with a powerhouse tip from FAACT’s General Counsel and Vice President of Civil Rights Advocacy, Amelia Smith: “There are great resources out there, and I’m always available for you.” Did you know you can contact Amelia directly to brainstorm school solutions (FREE of charge!)? Email Amelia.Smith@FoodAllergyAwareness.org.
You are never alone when you are part of the FAACT family.
