504 plan in the works, with questions

[fuji]

My DD14(in less than 2 weeks!!) was diagnosed with PA at the beginning of this summer. Being that she has unfortunately had other ongoing health issues for the past 2 years she already has a 504 plan which includes a health plan. The 504 was actually the schools idea (Vice Principal).  I called him right before school started and let him know about the peanut allergy, he is completely on board for whatever we need to do and is willing to learn whatever he needs to keep DD safe. The cafeteria is already preparing peanut free lunches due to the fact that there is a little boy in elementary with PA. We live in a small town and all of the schools have lunch in one cafeteria! He met with all of her teachers and any staff member that would have contact with her before school and explained that the "old" 504 was still in effect for now and introduced the peanut allergy and gave them some guidelines with the caveat that there would be a new 504 soon. He asked DD and I to take notes for the first week or two and then meet with him so we could come up with a 504 that would keep her safe. He also let her know that he is available and all teachers know, she only has to say the word if she is having a reaction.
Notes:
DD is very mature for her age and is taking PA very seriously. (She's remembering to read labels and reminding her dad and I!)
DD may self carry- epi and whatever she needs to keep her safe.
VP(Vice Principal), is not knowledgeable in PA (other than the basics) so he is learning and so am I. Although we are all willing to learn.
VP is aware that Home EC (cooking) classes, science classes etc. need to be aware of not using peanuts in the classroom with DD. (He asked the teachers and they had already taken peanuts out due to the rising numbers of PA, although there haven't been any at the high school until my DD.)
VP created her previous 504 and health plan for her other health issues, and really took into account her feelings, health and safety.
I've been reading about all of the issues with parents getting 504's, and I feel fortunate that our school is so willing!
Is there anything that I would want included in this 504 for a independent, intelligent high school student? I've been reading the FARE site on 504's and watched their webinar, but it seemed mostly about younger children.

[CMdeux]

One of the provisions that seems to come up as a transitional thing (ergo-- mostly in secondary) is self-advocacy.

You'll probably want something about that written in-- just so that every staffer (now and in future) is aware that SHE is where the buck stops with her allergy management-- and that her bringing it up, or asking for an accommodation?  That needs to be good enough a reason for staffers to support those efforts and encourage her to guide management.

Sometimes it's tempting for adults to "manage" high schoolers/adolescents, and this is one area where the child mostly DOES know better than the adults-- and certainly one where the child is the one who will bear the consequences of bad decision-making.  Period.  Therefore, she needs to have absolute VETO power over her own safety.    This is an unusual thing-- and that is why it needs to be written in.  If she feels unwell, she HAS to have the ability to over-ride the teacher's desire for her to "wait until I'm finished" or "stay seated until _____."  No matter what else is happening, she HAS to have that power.

Otherwise, your situation sounds about as ideal as it gets in terms of support from a school system-- congratulations, and I really hope that it continues to go so smoothly!   

[lakeswimr]

You want to have the plan say that her teachers and others who are in charge of supervising her will be trained in the signs of anaphylaxis, how to use the epi, and what to do in case she has a reaction.  She should NOT go to the nurse by herself.  She should either stay where she is (in case of serious reaction) and be treated there, or be escorted to the nurse. 

You might want a back up set of epis with the nurse.

However you do things, you want all staff to know where her epis are located in case of emergency.

What are you doing with things that don't have labels such as baked goods that people say don't have peanut?  The standard recommendation is no label = don't eat it since other people can make mistakes and accidentally cross contaminate foods.

[fuji]

Thanks! I'm taking notes!

I totally agree about managing high schoolers! I'm walking a fine line between teaching her how to manage herself and letting her but also keeping her safe!

VP is all about self-advocacy! It's already in her current 504 as pertains to those issues, so we'll just add it to the PA!
No school nurse, but there is a set of epi's in the office and a set in her bag that she takes everywhere.

*Self-advocacy
*teachers (all staff in charge of DD) will be trained in the signs of anaphylaxis
*teachers (all staff in charge of DD) will be trained in how to use the epi
*what to do in case of reaction (this is in the plan that came from the allergist)
*where does she go in case of a reaction (to be escorted)
*all staff will know where her epi's are kept

DD is aware not to eat others baked goods.

[Macabre]

You may want to see this thread. I have one of our MS 504 plans in it. It did change a but in high school, but a lot of it is still there.

Middle School Accomodation plan