“I don’t do that” is what my son’s weekly reading instructor said to me when I explained that my son carries epinephrine for his food allergies. I said, “fine, his good friend is in this class and knows what do and I will sitting down the hall, so call my cell phone if you have any health issues”. For years’ now, my son’s friend is 14 years old and has known how to keep all of his food allergic pals safe and how to manage an emergency. I had full faith my son had back up. I was disappointed at this instructor’s language and putting up a wall of non-communication. His body language was clear too: no dice lady and don’t ask is the message I heard loud and clear.
Thankfully, he was teaching a reading course and not a communication class!
Here’s the situation: My son is taking a summer weekly course that is being offered by a Institute of Reading Developement, which is a .org. The 2.5 hour class is being held in a classroom located in our local community college: Truckee Meadows Community College. I paid the company offering the class-not the community college where the class is being held. I called the company stating that it slipped my mind that I need to speak to the instruction regarding my son’s food allergies and managing his epinephrine. He is also taking a writing course at Sage Ridge School’s Summer at the Ridge, which offers camps for all ages ranging from arts to SAT prep. They have a comprehensive food allergy policy in place and it is very easy to send a child with food allergies there for camp. Somehow, I lumped the two classes together in my mind and did not do my usual food allergy plotting and planning.
I should have called earlier, even though I had planned on staying on site since it is more efficient to stay instead of driving back and forth across town. My bad on not calling. When I spoke to the Customer Service rep, they explained that they could email the instructor, but I need to go and speak directly to that person. This all felt good and fine. I wasn’t too worried since I would be on site and no food is allowed in the classrooms.
Here are my questions to you and your experiences:
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- Since the class is offered by a separate company but being held in a public community college building, is my son entitled to 504 accommodations like he is at school?
- It looks as if the Institute for Reading and Development is a non-profit, therefore, if they receive grant monies…if they are state or federally funded does this place them in the position to address medical issues?
- I do not want this instructor with the bad communication skills managing my son’s life threatening food allergies, but for future reference, should I pursue how the company handles health issues?
- If so, what are top three points I need to make?
- Do you have any other suggestions for me?
I was a bit surprised at his reaction, but I just can’t shake this bad feeling about how the company offering elementary and high school courses is managing epinephrine carrying students. Clearly, I need to follow-up but I thought I would toss this out to hear your experience or to hear your suggestions on how I can approach this.
- Your thoughts wanted!
Please comment below! I would love to hear your opinions regarding managing food allergic reaction response and single workshops or courses being offered by private entities to the public in public locations!
One of the hardest things I find about managing both life threatening food allergies and asthma is talking to others. I hate to be the one that might be perceived as demanding, pushing or for asking too much. What I now know, fourteen years later, is that honest, clear information presented with kindness works!..
Since the class is offered by a separate company but being held in a public community college building, is my son entitled to 504 accommodations like he is at school? Maybe -the ADA isn’t specific about food allergies which might cover the kid in a situation like this.
It looks as if the Institute for Reading and Development is a non-profit, therefore, if they receive grant monies…if they are state or federally funded does this place them in the position to address medical issues? private company… still vague
I do not want this instructor with the bad communication skills managing my son’s life threatening food allergies, but for future reference, should I pursue how the company handles health issues? maybe… for the next student
Do you have any other suggestions for me? Pick your battles. Ignorance on the part of the instructor & company are excuses for their actions. Most importantly, we live in a different world. Not everyone has a medical background or expertise in emergency medicine… or the basic CPR training. Realize that the agency & the instructor are professionals and good at what they do -which isn’t food allergy recognition & treatment.
In the future… you will have to take that leap of faith with your son (who is almost an adult) to make decisions for himself about food safety.
Muchas gracias Judie for your response! Hope DC is great and you’ve learned to embrace the humidity!
Clearly the organization does not have a policy in place regarding food allergy issues. It is not okay for them to pass it off to the instructor. I don’t know the legal ramifications but the organization needs to be educated at the administrative level with the goal of establishing policy regarding food allergy. it would be good to find out a bit more about food allergy policies if any at tmcc and colleges in general.
I agree it isn’t the instructors fault. It is the administrations.
The 504 question is a complex one and may not simply depend on whether IRD takes federal funding; there may be other implications since they do not operate the facility directly.
As frustrating as this instructor’s reaction might be, my advice to your readers is that one should never *impose* the roll of emergency epinephrine administrator on anyone who is the least bit resistant. You *never* want someone who might hesitate because they are squeamish or worried about litigation to be responsible for saving your child’s life by plunging a needle into their thigh.
IRD needs to be brought into the 21st century! My suggestion is to print out a copy of the Washoe County School District guidelines regarding Management of Students with Food Anaphylaxis (an excellent example of a school policy championed by Caroline and available at http://www.gratefulfoodie.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Management-of-Students-with-Food-Anaphylaxis.pdf), hand it to their director and offer to help him adapt it to his program!
Gee Dave, I forgot the obvious! I agree though, you never want to attempt to force…it just can’t end well.
wow! That isn’t okay with me. I would feel very uncomfortable with that instructor. It is a good thing you are on site, but he is obviously not food allergy trained. He wouldn’t know the signs, symptoms, and who knows if he would call 911? There was an incident earlier this year where a public school delayed treatment for a long time and the child died. What was worse is the parents were at a meeting in the school 🙁 Who knows if he even believes in food allergies. I would definately speak to him further. I do not know the legalities of the 504 but you may want to call the ADA and see if this is discrimination. If it doesn;t get fixed right this moment for your child you will at least be helping food allergic children next year and hopefully get new policies in place. 🙂 Hope I helped.
My FB page Elijah’s Hope (Food Allergy Awareness) is http://www.facebook.com/elijahshope
checking out your page….
Hi Candice,
I did hear about that child’s death…so incredibly tragic! I do believe I need to talk to the instructor, even though I’m on site and my son’s friend, who knows the signs is in class, but it is not good to rely on someone who may be sick one day. I appreciate you sharing your thoughts!
Places of public accommodation do need to make accommodations for individuals with disabilities. Food allergy is a disability according to the ADAAA. Legal precedent for accommodating food allergies is, to my knowledge pretty lacking.
But, La Petite Academy, who offers private day care settled with the United States under the ADA a complaint that they discriminated against students with disabilities by maintaining a policy of not administering an epi pen. I don’t see the scenario you presented as dissimilar.
Here’s the settlement agreement:
http://www.ada.gov/lapetite.htm
I think a phone call to the DOJ would be beneficial. I would love to know what you find out. And, I totally agree with you and the other poster that you don’t want this instructor responsible for your son based on his response. Goodluck!
Hi Kim, what is the DOJ? I will definitely pursue this as I realize the instructor should understand the warning signs, even if I am down the hall and quite honestly TMCC may not understand what is taking place and as community college, what is their role when managing children. Thanks for good information.