Celiac Disease in Children – Preparation Helps Anxiety!

For children across the country, school is back in session. Backpacks, homework, and school lunches are part of the normal routine for most children. Nevertheless, for some young children, along with that routine, comes the anxiety of having to deal with celiac disease. It’s essential to acknowledge that your child will take cues from you.  So take a deep breath…your approach to celiac disease sets the tone for the school year.

With a little advance homework you are able to help to alleviate some of that anxiousness.  Make it a team strategy.  Get together with your childs teacher, principle, school nurse, counselor and do not forget to include cafeteria staff.  Visit your childs physician before school starts,and get a hold of a letter explaining celiac disease and how it affects your child.  Have copies of approved foods and snacks accessiblefor the team.  Be certain to bring extra copies to go into a substitute teacher file.  Discuss your child’s symptoms, go over the basics of celiac disease let your child’s teacher know that additional bathroom visits may be important and bring a stash of gluten free goodies for the teacher to put away in case of an unplanned special event. If at all possible, speak to other parents at the 1st all parent meeting. This may give you the occasion to get together with other parents of children with celiac disease.

If you’re not already aware of it, section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is a Federal law that’s designed to secure the rights of people with disabilities who are in programs that receive federal financial aid from the United States Department of Education  (your child’s school!).  It means that under section 504 the schools are required to plan and offer at least one SAFE meal per day to the student. What this indicates for celiac children is that the food must be gluten free and cooked in a separate area of the cafeteria with separate utensils!  Obtain a 504 evaluation for your child, and put a 504 strategy in writing.

We have a example 504 plan at Celiac Moms including a much more in-depth explanation of section 504 and what the law means to you and your kid with celiac disease.

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