New College has no clue about PA

[wackattack69]

I have not been on here for a while (and that's good news) but DD is starting her 4 year college on Monday. She finished her first two years at two different community colleges-and her accommodations were exceptional!!
One month ago, she went and met with the head of the Disability Services Dept. She brought in her Food Allergy Action Plan from last year, as well as the disability form from her previous college. The man stated he had never heard of a peanut allergy and wasn't quite sure what to do about hers? She pointed out the paperwork that she was leaving with him and asked if she would need to sign a "plan" of some kind.He said "nope" there was nothing to sign. We thought this was odd. She told him if he had any questions to please call her. He had her email and phone number.
So, today she stops in and he has done NOTHING with her stuff...NADA. He was going to ask about "peanut free" classroom signs, but was afraid that the maintenance department would get mad. He was also sick for a few days (he's had this stuff for a month). He gave her, nor showed her any written plan of any sort. He told her that he made a note in the computer that she could make up any tests she missed due to being in the hospital from an allergic reaction?
DD asked him to please call her Disability contact person, from her previous college and perhaps they could help.
She came home devastated. This man has NO CLUE. We both want something in writing that her teachers are aware of her PA and asthma and know to call the EMS, etc. should she need the Epi Pen.
The school website states that "each student will develop an individualized plan for services with ODS"-Office of Disability Services. He has no plan just a "note in the computer". Can someone please, please tell me what to do, (have DD do). I cannot believe this man's ignorance and DD is so excited to start this school. It starts on Monday.
We need help....please.

[PurpleCat]

   I honestly do not know!  We did not go through that department for college.  I hope you get some answers and seriously, dude!  Do your job!

[becca]

That's crazy!  I don't have answers for you.  I hope someone does! 

Will she live on Campus and have a meal plan?

[gvmom]

Just trying to sort of figure things out from your post.  Forgive my questions.  I frequently think in terms of how to do things "in the meantime" while you wait for more formal stuff. 

Trying to do the math..... your DD is around 19/20?

Is she going to live on campus? 

Does your DD go and do stuff on her own? 

I'm sort of distracted at the moment with kids in the background.... but.... it may take awhile to get this guy up to speed.  He may never get there too.  The requirements for secondary education are different than k-12.  Some accommodations that you may feel are necessary in an action plan, they may see as something that your DD can just go up to her teachers and tell them. 

Also, the school might not have ever gotten requests for stuff before because many things a college student has more ability to just advocate for themselves in the moment about.... which is different than k-12.  Prevalence of birthday parties or seating charts.... lots of times those don't exist ..... and if they do, again, it is hard to imagine your DD getting a teacher telling her she can't move away from someone eating in class.  Frankly, I would bet that other college students would be way nicer these days about FA's.  Plus, your DD can take wipes with her to wipe a desk down .... my DS1 has individually wrapped wet ones coming out his ears. 

It also might be helpful though to get an idea of her reaction history.  If she's had a history where she doesn't go do stuff on her own, or ends up needing hospital trips, then that seems sort of different than a "just in case" for something that doesn't happen regularly, and one day she might be out doing something on her own, and she'd have to turn to a stranger and ask them to call an ambulance.  You'd hope that college wouldn't quite be like that... but if she is randomly walking around campus and on her own, and something happens, it will be up to her to try and do something and get help from people that don't have any idea about her action plan.

I'll try and think more.... but.... besides the ambulance what other things is she asking for?

[wackattack69]

Thanks everyone, even if you can't help.
Today, DD contacted the school nurse (her own idea), who is a nurse practitioner. She is going to try and get her help in educating the head of Disability Services.
As far as what DD is asking for--something on paper a "plan" that states that her teachers have been informed of her allergy, it's severity and the fact that 911 would need to be called, if DD needs to Epi herself. The other colleges have always done that,without a problem. I guess we want to have things on paper in case she ever needs 911 called or needs to leave the classroom if someone next to her opens a Kit Kat-KWIM?? At this point, she has nothing in hand to state that her teachers are even aware of allergy, not to mention her severe asthma.
She is not living on campus, as we only live 25 minutes from school.
Am I wrong to feel so shocked over this? This isn't all new to us, she went into shock at 18 months, we had to file a complaint with the OCR when she was 12. I feel like we are starting from square 1 with this college.

[wackattack69]

  I honestly do not know!  We did not go through that department for college.  I hope you get some answers and seriously, dude!  Do your job!

What department did you go through?

[BensMom]

I don't really know what to tell you, but I'd try a little research. Google food allergies and the name of the school. See if there's anything on college confidential. There has to be someone who's PA there, even if they haven't asked for accommodations. This guy is head of disability services, but he still has a boss--maybe go talk to the boss. Or tell this guy--if you can't help me, can I please speak to your boss? But I'd also like to think that any teacher who sees a kid giving herself epi and yelling "call 911, I'm having an allergic reaction" will, you know, call 911.

[gvmom]

Thanks everyone, even if you can't help.
Today, DD contacted the school nurse (her own idea), who is a nurse practitioner. She is going to try and get her help in educating the head of Disability Services.

I think that is great!  She is being pro-active and self advocating.  Which, from what I can tell, is what colleges expect.  Theoretically, while they still may be our kids, unless it is billing/payment, colleges think the students should be the ones doing everything. 

As far as what DD is asking for--something on paper a "plan" that states that her teachers have been informed of her allergy, it's severity and the fact that 911 would need to be called, if DD needs to Epi herself. The other colleges have always done that,without a problem. I guess we want to have things on paper in case she ever needs 911 called or needs to leave the classroom if someone next to her opens a Kit Kat-KWIM??

Even if she has a paper plan, if she is sitting in a classroom and has a reaction, it is likely she will have to say she needs an ambulance and is having a reaction.  Especially if she is sitting in a large lecture hall or somewhere in the back. 

But, I'm sort of thinking that even if she has a plan, on file, and the disability office says something, doesn't your DD really want to talk to the teacher herself anyway to make sure they understand? 

Plus, if your DD is sitting in class, and she does have a reaction, I can't imagine an entire room full of adults sitting there and watching someone die in front of them.  I mean, I could have imagined that given the school my older two kids went to for elementary.... but..... college? 

Lastly.... just trying to gauge something here.... has your DD had a reaction to someone eating a food sitting next to her?  I was trying to see what her FA's were.  What she is dealing with?  I can't see it listed. 

At this point, she has nothing in hand to state that her teachers are even aware of allergy, not to mention her severe asthma.

Nothing is stopping her from telling them herself though.  This is sort of the leap that we are having to take with DS1 going to college. 

She is not living on campus, as we only live 25 minutes from school.

So she is still living at home and will be commuting.  What are the hours like for school?

Am I wrong to feel so shocked over this? This isn't all new to us, she went into shock at 18 months, we had to file a complaint with the OCR when she was 12. I feel like we are starting from square 1 with this college.

I don't know if you should feel wrong about being shocked.  There are a bunch of us with kids either in college or heading off to college this year.  My DS1 for example is headed to college, living away from home, with PA/TNA, we had a 504 for public school, and dealt with aggressively hostile administration, teachers, parents and students while he was in public school.  We also filed a complaint with the OCR for our DS2 when he was in 3rd grade.... he was at the same school... with the same awful people.

I sort of think you don't necessarily have to view it as starting over with college.  It is different.  DS1 contacted the Disability Office for his university for housing accommodations.  The documentation we submitted was incredibly minimal compared to what we had to submit to the elementary school to prove that he had food allergies... and that they were deadly.  DS1 got his housing accommodation easily after the woman called him to confirm the paperwork that we submitted. 

Inherently, I think that colleges aren't there to thwart the students or disbelieve them, but I think they expect that the student will say something. 

I absolutely believe that if your DD's school says she should come up with a plan in tandem with the Disability Office, then that should be possible.  There should be an informed person.  However, having dealt with, for years, people who knowingly undermined and endangered my kids, with their allergens, in their classrooms, it is possible to have your child come up with a standard of self-vigilance that helps keep them safe while you fight through the system.

One of the things that I would tell my son is that we will absolutely support him if he feels he is unsafe, needs to remove himself, and somehow someone thinks he should be penalized.  If indeed your DD needed to get up and leave, not just move her seat, or ask the person to not eat the kit kat next to her, she should feel supported in doing what she needs to do for herself. 

[gvmom]

BTW, I wanted to add, that somewhere on the other college thread, I do have my own freak-out too about my DS1 going off to college.  It is a big deal, and I don't want you to think I'm being blasé about anything.  I also asked about who should be contacting the school, and was told that the students do it.  And, they were right.   

I would also say, that it has been an adjustment not approaching everything for college in the same way we had to during the 504 years.  I automatically go to starting to prepare for making a case like I'm presenting to the Supreme Court like we used to have to.  I have to remind myself that I can start from the premise that there are some people that are human, and being helpful is actually something they want to be.  It is hard to remember to start at that place. 

[wackattack69]

BTW, I wanted to add, that somewhere on the other college thread, I do have my own freak-out too about my DS1 going off to college.  It is a big deal, and I don't want you to think I'm being blasé about anything.  I also asked about who should be contacting the school, and was told that the students do it.  And, they were right.   

I would also say, that it has been an adjustment not approaching everything for college in the same way we had to during the 504 years.  I automatically go to starting to prepare for making a case like I'm presenting to the Supreme Court like we used to have to.  I have to remind myself that I can start from the premise that there are some people that are human, and being helpful is actually something they want to be.  It is hard to remember to start at that place.

YES. Thank you.

[wackattack69]

Ok, so do you all think DD should just go ahead and email her teachers...without waiting for the Disability guy? I mean we are thinking what is the chain of command...if someone has to call 911 WHO will make sure her parents are notified?

DD is gonna ask the NP to show the teachers how to give an Epi..is they have to. DD has never had to do it.

DD is just feeling "not prepared" after such great written plans for her 2 years in 2 different community colleges, if you can understand that.
Also, because she has no meal plan (I know accommodations would HAVE to be made there) what else is she entitled to, in college---the short of it.

She had a reaction last year to smelling Thai food behind her(peanut sauce) and had to leave class, take Benadryl and be observed at the clinic for several hours. She broke out in hives all over her face and hands (the skin that was exposed).
Her info on the form (that every other college has) says she cannot smell peanuts/peanut dust and that her severe asthma will up the chances of a severe reaction.
-sigh

[gvmom]

So, I keep reading your last post and thinking.  I think this needed to be sort of one of those bits of information to know first about what has gone on with your DD:

She had a reaction last year to smelling Thai food behind her(peanut sauce) and had to leave class, take Benadryl and be observed at the clinic for several hours. She broke out in hives all over her face and hands (the skin that was exposed).
Her info on the form (that every other college has) says she cannot smell peanuts/peanut dust and that her severe asthma will up the chances of a severe reaction.

That is a full stop sort of thing in my mind.  As in, it is causing me the most difficulty in trying to figure out what I would do because that is a whole other level of things to me.  And, that it happened just last year.  So, in a college setting.  I want to think on it more.... and I also would be incredibly interested what others might think should be done as far as accommodations given those circumstances.

With regard to parent notification..... does she have a medic alert bracelet?  Does she have a card in her wallet that says something about emergency contacts?  It may be that notification might be by emergency personnel rather than by the school.  Not that the school shouldn't contact you.... but.... I also likely wouldn't depend on it just being left to them.  Colleges should have emergency contacts though anyway.  Maybe ask what their procedures are in case of emergency?

Has your DD never had to administer an epipen or is it that she has never had to be the one to show teachers how to give one?

And, again, I can definitely understand not feeling prepared ... and in your DD's case, given the above circumstances, I can imagine she could be petrified. 

Did your DD actually talk to the nurse at the school, or had she just reached out to her via email?  I'm wondering, if your DD communicated that incident that happened, if the nurse might help her figure out what to do.  The nurse should theoretically have a better understanding of what those circumstances actually mean, and be more motivated by the seriousness of the situation to make sure something is done quickly.

I really hope others chime in here.   

[PurpleCat]

  I honestly do not know!  We did not go through that department for college.  I hope you get some answers and seriously, dude!  Do your job!

What department did you go through?

For dorm assignments, I forget who DD contacted in housing and requested a double room and our allergist wrote a letter stating one roommate was much less risky than two.

She did not go random with her roommate, she found one in the facebook group last winter and they have been chatting online ever since.  Young lady has no issues with allergies and keeping DD safe.

We contacted food service directly and met with the manager during New Student Orientation and established a protocol for DD dining on campus.

DD will discuss with professors as needed depending on class/lab and risk.  She wears a medical alert bracelet at all times and Medical Alert has her history and long list of allergens.

We contacted health services directly to work out allergy shots during the school year.

[PurpleCat]

FYI - learned at New Student Orientation, there is no protocol for contacting parents because our students are 18 and up and considered adults. Hippaa laws. At the Health Services Clinic, students have to sign for each time they want their parents contacted.

Local hospital if accepting a student at ER will contact the school for information, often supplied by the school police department.  Whether they contact a parent or not is dependent on the student providing permission.

[BensMom]

I was just going to say, have your student fill out a form allowing you to get information. Our state has them online. I forget what it's called but is basically a medical directive saying you can make decisions if they can't, but also that medical professionals are allowed to give you information. We just have a copy in the file cabinet and could fax to a hospital if we ever needed to in order to get information.