Our allergy support group took on the local school board over the issue of 10- and 11-year-old student volunteers supervising children while they were eating. Good news: we carried the day, and our children head back to school this year with vastly improved meal supervision. Allergic Living asked me to share our group’s story, since [...]

The start of kindergarten is bittersweet for most parents. On one hand, we’re excited for the new experiences that await our youngsters as they begin their school careers; at the same time, we mourn the passing of the baby years. How quickly they grow up. I remember clearly the day that our first-born child, Julian, [...]

Alarm bells went off for Sarah Cameron* that day in 2008 when her 8-year-old daughter came home from school in a state of high agitation. There had been an incident during lunch break. The girl recounted how one of two Grade 6 monitors supervising the kids in her classroom had ordered her to sit at [...]

Food Allergy Action Plans UNITED STATES FAAN’s Back-to-School Tool Kit FAAN’s Food Allergy Action Plan Food Allergy Initiative’s Authorization of Emergency Treatment Form FAAN/FAI e-learning resource, comprehensive tool for teachers. www.allergyready.com Federal 504 Plan AAFA on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) National Assn of School Nurses’ Anaphylaxis Provision of Care documents CANADA Comprehensive resource - Allergy Safe Communities [...]

In the radio documentary she made, Sabrina Shannon, just shy of 10, holds the microphone in front of her mother and asks what it’s like to have a daughter with allergies. Then she adds: “Do you think I’m beautiful?” With mock earnestness, Sara Shannon replies, “I think you’re probably the best-looking girl in the world.” [...]

Canada Ontario’s legislation – Sabrina’s Law, the precedent-setting anaphylaxis legislation Alberta policy – ASBA Allergy and Anaphylaxis Policy Advisory British Columbia – Ministerial Order: British Columbia Anaphylaxis and Child Safety Framework Manitoba – 2008 law / Bill 232: The Public Schools Amendment Act (Anaphylaxis Policies) New Brunswick policy – Health Support Services policy for anaphylaxis Nova Scotia guidelines [...]

By email – November 16, 2009 To: Ms. Maryam Sanati, Editor-in-chief, Chatelaine Ms. Patricia Pearson, Writer Re: Chatelaine article “It’s just nuts” I hope you received the Sabrina’s Law documentary about my daughter who died in 2003 at the age of 13 after suffering a fatal allergic reaction. I sent two copies a couple of weeks ago, [...]

She has known a parent’s greatest grief: Sara Shannon lost her daughter Sabrina to anaphylaxis in the 13-year-old’s first year of high school. But out of tragedy, hope has been born: Ontario passed Sabrina’s Law in 2005, which requires schools to have anaphylaxis policies, to reduce allergen exposure and to train all staff in the [...]

 Here are some tips for a safe Halloween in the classroom: • Talk with the teacher as soon as you can about snacks, treats and activities. • If food will be served for the class, offer to bring it. At the very least, provide something safe for your child to eat. • For younger children, [...]

THE PIZZA day. The monthly birthday cake. Treats from the teacher for a job well done. Those holiday celebrations. The dad with the MBA using spreadsheet skills to organize the preschool snack schedule. The amount of food the average child comes in contact with at the modern school is several times what his 30- or [...]