Connecticut

FAS has upgraded our forum security. Some members may need to log in again. If you are unable to remember your login information, please email food.allergy.supt@flash.net and we will help you get back in. Thanks for your patience!

ajasfolks2:
Anybody in CT or have some insight as to recent developments? I know there were some (not too distant) challenges and head-beating-brick-wall excursions . . .

Am going to do FOIA request to OCR regional specific to CT to see if something recent we've missed or not been aware of . . .

PM (private message) me if you'd rather that than post.

If you are newbie with no PM privileges, we'll see if we can help you out if you need privacy / anonymity.

ajasfolks2:
From a particular district in CT . . . for example:

(dated 2004 on their website, with note as to "revised" 2012)

--- Quote ---
EQUAL EDUCATION OPPORTUNITY 5546

Section 504 is a Civil Rights Statute that prohibits discrimination against persons with a disability in any program receiving Federal financial assistance. The Statute defines a person with a disability as anyone who:

has a mental or physical impairment that substantially limits one (1) or more major life activities (major life activities include activities such as caring for one’s self, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, and working);

has a record of such impairment; or

is regarded as having such impairment.

In order to fulfill its obligation under Section 504, the Fairfield Public School District recognizes a responsibility to avoid discrimination in policies and practices regarding its personnel and students. No discrimination against any person with a disability will knowingly be permitted in any of the programs and practices in the school system.

The school district has specific responsibilities under the Act, which include the responsibility to identify, evaluate, and if the child is determined to be eligible under Section 504, to afford access to appropriate educational services.

If the parent or guardian disagrees with the determination made by the professional staff of the school district, he has a right to a hearing with an impartial hearing officer.

--- End quote ---

Those of us familiar with 504 law, process, and procedure can see some of what is missing from the info provided to parents there.

It's the intentional (IMO) omissions and potential inaction (ok, refusal) to even evaluate for 504 in some CT districts that is a potentially BIG problem for many LTFA families there . . .

And so I'm reminded of the "deliberate indifference" discussion here too.

hedgehog:
I think you know I live in CT. I am afraid I am not much help, though. I have not concerned myself too much with what the law requires regarding schools, because I have been fortunate enough to live in a district where it has not been an issue. The local schools have done a great job of keeping DS safe, and in general of inclusion (there were occasions when no one had thought of something that could exclude, but when it was brought up, they were happy to make necessary changes).

If you need any more specifics about our district, or anything else you think I might be able to help with, feel free to pm me.

lakeswimr:
Maybe it is late but I'm not seeing what you are talking about. The quote you posted says they will evaluate for 504. What is wrong with that quote? Why do you think it is indicative of a problem in the whole state of CT?

I think that back when the first version of the CT guidelines for schools came out, many districts may have interpreted the requirement for all students with food allergies to have an IHCP to mean that they did not or could not also have a 504 for food allergies. Ours switched from routinely doing 504s to saying they did only IHCPs. I got one after a while, though, by coming to the 504 meeting well prepared including having info about the 2008 amendment and about what happened in districts that refused 504s for FA students.

ajasfolks2:
Thanks, Hedge!

lakeswimr -- aren't you still the only or one of the very few with a 504 for LTFA in your area? Is your particular school district truly proactive about child find and/or identifying for 504 for LTFA, diabetes, and other medical disabilities? Or is the information kept nearly-secret from the families -- most of whom don't even know about 504s or their students' rights?

For the longest time CT was a lot like Fairfax Co, Virginia: IHCPs still being offered in lieu of 504s on regular basis for LTFA students. The IHCPs weren't even being done -- they weren't truly "individualized" as to the "I" in IHCP.

Is the information for parents so far as 504, process to request, and details readily and obviously available at school / district websites? Or is there a very basic 504 statement with nothing linked or truly helpful for the parents as to "what next" . . . leaving the parents to ask the principal or other admin about 504 and then being verbally told "an IHCP will do" and shrugged off . . .