CPS Student Dies from Peanut Exposure

I am so sorry you have to deal with this, both a scary allergy and the assanine school and parents out there. It is unbelievable how thoughtless and insensitive people are these days. I mean--how hard is it to leave the pb at home! I do not know of strictly peanut free grammar schools, but hopefully that will change now with the death of this poor child, it is sad that a death has to happen before people take it seriously. Right now most CPS schools just have you put an IEP in place and then your kid eats at a separate table, which is a joke because of course kids move throughout the class during the day and it is not fair your son has to be alienated at lunchtime. Have you looked into private school? Many times the private schools are not as held down my all the red tape and can set their own policies. CPS has a huge bureaucracy as I am sure you are aware, and a lot of the time the important things are lost--like not being able to have his epipen on him or in the classroom. That is stupid--an epipen only works one time anyway. It is not as if your child will be going around randomly sticking people! It should be held by whatever adult is in the room at all times. I know the private schools can be expensive, but I would look into them if you can, see if you qualify for assistance if needed for tuition. You could consider home schooling, but the fact that you would have to home school because your son has an allergy is really stupid, when it could so easily be prevented at school. I can't tell you how angry it makes me to read stuff like this--I hope not one inconsiderate parent will post here with their ridiculous argument of their child's "right" to eat peanut butter. Gosh, if you can't tell your kids no to a simple food like peanut butter, what kind of a spoiled brat are you raising anyway? I wish I had more info for you--I feel for you and that poor family that lost their child. Just keep advocating for your child and teaching him about his allergy as best you can.

Diana, check out Disney II-- it's the second location for the Disney magnet school, right off 90/94 at the Irving Park. Pulaski exit. My friend sends her son there and they are peanut free. However, she doesn't think it's not allowed to send your kid a PB sandwich in their lunch. She said they eat lunch in small groups so teachers can monitor and make sure there is no "lunch swapping" going on. I hope that helps, but since it's a magnet school, there's a lottery process.

Also, check out some other CPS schools. It's probably a school to school issue, some will have less of an attitude than you've encountered. One of my best friends' sons has a life threatening allergy to dairy, and she's dealt with the same ridiculous barriers that you've had to. However, the school that our kids go to is a charter school and is very helpful as far as I know about him having very close access to an epi-pen at all times. I believe they have them at different locations, including the cafeteria.

But I'm sure it's different school to school, so call around and ask.

It breaks my heart to hear about your son's peanut allergy keeping him from birthday parties and bakeries. Please message me if you'd ever like to talk.

Best wishes,
J.

I feel your pain. My 3.5 year old is anaphylaxis peanut allergic. She also has milk, fish and egg to lesser degrees. She goes to catholic preschool that has an elementary school. They do not need to comply with ADA BUT since there are so many tree nut and peanut allergic kids in the class (4 in a class of 34) they have made the full-time preschool peanut and tree nut free. This all changes in kindergarten when they start to allow peanut products and PB & J sandwiches...with just designated tables for the peanut free kids. NOT looking forward to the segregation. My daughter might only be 3.5 BUT she knows she is allergic to peanuts and has to have special treats.

Even my husband's family is a pain in the butt and served peanut butter icecream or cakes/pies with loose peanuts on them at family functions after we ASK THEM NOT TO. It makes us on high alert all the time. We used the article, an example of someone else's unfortunate tragedy, as a platform to show my husband's family the importance of biding our wishes at family functions.

As for schools - saying a school is peanut free is misleading unless all food is made there or guaranteed by the catering company and the kids do not bring lunches. The teachers do not have the time nor inclination to go around and check the labels on everyone's lunches...plus some snacky things are not labeled for resale or are put in baggies by parents. I think we just have to be as diligent as possible, have open communication with teachers regarding bring snacks and keeping them onsite that are JUST for our kids (ex/they had ice cream day at my daughter;s school and I brought Rice Dream icecream for her in a little dish labeled for her that the teacher kept in a freezer and gave to her during treat time; we also sent boxes of treats/snacks, etc. at the beginning of the year and things like homemade P. muffins and brownies for the freezer for her during birthday treats).

The other important thing we can do is EDUCATE our kids. A 13 year old with a peanut allergy should have been informed by her parents that Chinese food and other asian cuisine cannot ever be trusted to be peanut free. Language barriers, misunderstandings, etc. are just too common and peanut oils are so often used in stir fry and peanuts/peanut sauces in Thai cuisine that it can NEVER be guaranteed peanut free.

Good luck finding a peanut free school....but I think your best option is to spend all your extra time educating your child, teachers, the school district, etc. Best wishes!

I have the same worries and issues, as hard as it is, we have to learn to get past them, moved on and live a some what normal life. My duaghter has a peanut/treenut allergy, she is highly allergic, asthmatic and is now set to start High School next year. I've been through a lot in order to keep her safe at every new stage of her life, there have been issues but ultimately her safety is my concern. I no longer care what the other very insensitive parents think. As for you I highly suggest that you follow this link: http://specialchildren.about.com/od/504s/f/504faq1.htm

Your child needs a 504 plan to be in school. Your son is automatically protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act and you have every right to ask for one at the school your child goes to. Get a Doctors diagnosis of a food allergy and then E-mail the school ( always get it in writing ) and request to be in contact with whomever sets up the 504 plans, in our district its the physcologist. You should have a list/ideas of how and what your child needs in order to be safe and participate fully before your first meeting so that the school can begin to work with you. I urge you to read about 504 plans first so you can see what they are. You are entitled. Also may I suggest that you get a Doctors note to have the Epi available in the classroom or where he sees fit necessary for the protection of your child along with a diagnosis and action plan. Coming from a Dr. it shouldn't get argued that the school can't put the Epi in the class. Add it to your list of accomodations on the 504. I have had a 504 for 9 years now. At the end of each school year you will have an annual meeting to discuss any changes you would like to make or maybe need to modify as your child gets older. You can call a meeting at anytime just so you know. My first 504 was very long, and encluded every incident that would take place in which there maybe a risk. Do your homework, think out your childs needs and address them to the school, once they realize you know your rights they have to accomodate you within reason, remember the goal is to incorporate your child into the school day while keeping him as safe as possilble within reason. One suggestion to you, and request I put in my first 504 was that I will provide a tupperware marked with my daughters name that has safe snacks / trinkets in it for parties and unexpected times treats are given out. She was allowed to go to her box and choose a treat, it was almost always better than what the teacher or birthday child gave out. It worked really good in the early years.

I hope that this will help you, I can't imagine that a Chicago school would be exempt from getting you a 504 plan, as long as your child is diagnosed he is entitled. Also I will suggest the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network, they are a really good source to help you through almost anything. I've been a member for 10+years. Good Luck to you. G.N.