« on: September 18, 2011, 09:50:37 PM »
This is what we put in our written case for one major life activity. Feel free to use what's relevant and to strengthen for your child.
His Social/Emotional Condition
<<DSName>> suffers emotionally and socially because of his life threatening food allergy. Having a life threatening food allergy is a constant source of stress and fear. It impacts one�s ability to interact with peers normally, as socialization around food is so prominent in our society. For <<DSName>> to be safe at <<school>>, a peanut free table has been established, and it is physically separated from the other tables. Other children may sit with him, but if everyone is eating peanut butter on a given day or if no one wants to sit away from other peers and join <<DSName>> at the peanut free table, he may sit by himself (and has).
His everyday life is affected in class. For example, when the class has a food-related celebration to bid a student teacher good-bye or when another child brings cupcakes to celebrate her birthday, <<DSName>> is constantly reminded how different he is from the other students. He cannot eat that food that his peers eat if it is brought from home or from a bakery; he must eat food brought from his home, food that is guaranteed to be safe for him and not cause a life threatening reaction.
It is very easy for him to feel excluded and not a part of his peer group. He gets few invitations to birthday parties of his classmates. His parents assume it is because other parents are not comfortable in dealing with this allergy. His experiences are not unique. Others who suffer from life threatening food allergies experience the emotional stress and social alienation that <<DSName>> does.
In a recent article, Scott H. Sicherer, MD wrote this about food allergies and social isolation (and related it to an increase in fatalities among adolescents with food allergies):
�Indeed, surveys of food-allergic teenagers reveal that risk-taking (eating foods that may contain an allergen, not carrying medications) was common and associated with feeling socially isolated because of the food allergy. . . When asked about the "worst part" of having a food allergy, 94% cite "social isolation." (American Academy of Pediatrics News, Vol. 28 No. 6 June 2007, p. 14)
Dr. Sicherer, in his book Understanding and Managing Your Child�s Food Allergens, states the following.
� �Because of peer pressure at school, your child may be tempted to eat unsafe food.� (p. 220)
� �Living with a food allergy can be like living in a field of land mines. Living and managing this situation can lead to fear, anxiety, sadness, depression, anger frustration, guilt, rivalry among siblings, and stress between spouses and other family members.� (p. 238)
� �Living with food allergy is a significant challenge. The illness affects every aspect of life for the allergic child and family. Whether it is shopping, being with relatives and friends, at school or camp, or maintaining diligence at every meal, food allergies affect life.� (p. 229)
I stole the book quotes from a member. Thank you.
« Last Edit: March 12, 2013, 06:24:46 AM by ajasfolks2 »
Logged
Is this where I blame iPhone and cuss like an old fighter pilot's wife?
**(&%@@&%$^%$#^%$#$*& LOL!!