My daughter has been accepted at the following colleges: Shippensburg U., York, Rowan, Stockton, Penn State, Bloomsburg. Does anyone know any celiacs at these schools? They have been very helpful on the phone, but it is always better to directly talk to someone who has personal experience.

Afraid not. To be sure taking care of all considerations before you leave her there will be the most important thing. It's hard to get anything done once the parents leave. Good luck and good for you, working things out ahead of time.

Dear Lauriel234,
I do not know about celiacs at this school. I do have a safe list though. It could help her. Maybe you could give it to her. As long as she has a microwave, she should be in good shape. Here you go!

I have a list that should really help. This is overwhelming. I went through this with myself six months ago. You spend most of your day cooking and cleaning obsessively. The rest you are on the phone with reps from companies trying to find out what is safe. I decided to save you the trouble!
1. There are a number of things in the regular grocery that are safe. Some things are labeled already. Wal-Mart's Great Value brand has numerous things you can eat.
2. For the love of God use Coupons on items you are allowed to eat. People can get them and print them out online even. Call some of the local stores and ask if they accept online coupons.
3. Check the ads online and in the newspaper. You would be surprised how many people do not do this.
4. Some items like rice flour and rice noodles are safe to buy at the Chinese or oriental market. The merchants are more than happy to help you if you cannot read the label.
Now, here is my list of great things to get you started:
Condiments:
Smart Balance Margerine
Crisco Shortening
Crisco Oil
Pompeiian Olive Oil
Great Value soy sauce
Heinz Ketchup
Lea & Perrins Worchestershire Sauce
Sweet Baby Ray's Barbecue Sauce
Kraft French Fat-Free Salad Dressing
Kraft Thousand Island Fat-Free Salad Dressing
Pace Picante Sauce
Ortega Salsa
All Classico Red and White sauces
All Jif Peanut Butters including Smooth Sensations
Welch's Grape Jelly
Cool Whip
Philadelphia Cream Cheese
Miracle Whip
Daisy Sour Cream (fat-free, low-fat, regular)
Snack Foods:
Fritos
Tostitos
Lay's Original Potato Chips
Cool Ranch Doritos (Nacho cheese has gluten)
Act II Microwave Popcorn
Cheetos
3 Musketeers candy bars
Butterfinger candy bars
Reese's Peanut Butter Cups
Meat and Protein :
Eggs
Great Value Frozen Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts
Extra Lean ground beef
Carl Buddig lunchmeats all are safe
Johnsonville Original Bratwursts
Kraft Cheese Shredded or sliced (Kraft is a great company, they never hide gluten in their labels. If it does not say wheat, barley, oats or rye, then it is not in there!)
Cereals:
Cocoa Pebbles
Fruity Pebbles
Dora The Explorer Cinnamon Stars
Seasonings:
Durkee Cinnamon-ground
Durkee Ginger-ground
Durkee Chili powder
Durkee Vanilla Extract (in fact, all of their liquid flavorings, food colorings, and extracts are g.f.)
Emeril's Essence - Asian, Italian
Ortega Taco Seasoning (In fact, since they are under a very strict labeling policy, all of their products are gluten free at this time)
Miscellaneous:
Ortega Taco Shells
Starkist or Great Value Tuna
Butter Buds
Great Value Soy Milk
Lettuce
Tomatoes
Apples
Pears
Carrots
Great Value Canned Fruits and Vegetables
Del Monte Canned Fruits and Vegetables
Ore Ida Tater Tots
Ore Ida French Fries
Hormel Chili
Hormel Spam
Hormel Turkey Spam (Oven Roasted and Smoked)
Hormel Beef Au Jus Entree
Hormel Pork Au Jus Entree
Jimmy Dean Fresh Taste Fast Sausage (links, rolls, and patties)
Plumrose Bacon
PAM Non-Stick Cooking Spray (all except for PAM for baking; it has flour)
Beverages:
Coca-Cola (Diet, Regular, Vanilla, Caffeine Free)
Diet Rite
Folgers Coffees (all including Cappuccinos)
Luzianne Tea (We get decaf)
Arizona Teas
Ocean Spray Cranberry Juice
Some Household Items that are safe include:
Cascade Dishwashing Detergent
All Laundry Detergent
Wisk Laundry Detergent
Dawn Dish Soap (all including the Power Disolver)
SoftSoap Hand Soaps
Murphy's Oil Soap
Hygiene, Cosmetics, and Beauty Items:
Dove Soaps, Shampoos, Conditioners, Lotions, and Styling Aids (Will clearly label gluten if present)
Crest Whitening Expressions Toothpastes
Colgate Toothpastes
Suave Soaps, Shampoos, Conditioners, Lotions, and Styling Aids (Will clearly label gluten if present)
Maybelline (Gluten is clearly labeled when present)
CoverGirl (Gluten is clearly labeled when present)
Wet'n Wild (All except for one of the mascaras)
Olay Quench Body Lotion
Crest WhiteStrips
Colgate Simply White
I hope this helps!
Sincerely,
NoGluGirl

I do agree with this. Once your daughter turns 18 and after the first semester, you might not even get her grades unless she sends them to you. You can pay for the full tuition, but not be privy to the results.

Which ever school she chooses, I would meet with Human Resources and explain her situation and find out what the college/university will make available to her.

There are several college students her on site. That may be a good resource for her. I am sure that at they will be able to offer some suggestions.

Good Luck

Thanks for the list - it was a big help!

Dear lauriel234,
You are so welcome! This disease is hard to deal with. I am glad this is useful. Celiac is overwhelming a lot of the time. Especially in cases like these. Perhaps you could send a care package up there once a month with bread mixes, Glutino pretzals, etc. Also, talk to the school is a good idea. They are obligated by law Disability Act 504 to cooperate. Here is the site address http://www.celiacdisease.net/CeliacDisease...31/Default.aspx I hope this helps.
Sincerely,
NoGluGirl

Hi lauriel,

I was "lucky" enough to be diagnosed with Celiac at the beginning of my senior year of college. I say lucky because at this time I had an apartment - meaning I did not live in the dorms and did not have to rely on the school's cafeteria meal plans (which were mandatory for students who did live in the dorms). I had a full kitchen (stove, oven, etc.) so was able to cook my own meals. I also lived with my 4 best friends, who were very supportive and considerate of my new gluten-free diet. I attended a small liberal arts school, and I definitely would not have been able to follow a Celiac + vegetarian diet with much variation had I eaten in the cafeteria.

That said, the school where I went for undergrad (Mount St. Mary's in Emmitsburg, MD) does make accomodations for students with special dietary needs. Had I gone in as a freshman with Celiac, the school would have provided me with an apartment so that I could cook my own meals. Nice enough, but for me, being able to live the "freshman experience" and go to the dining hall with the other new students was what helped me to make new friends.

OK, I'm being long winded here, but I know I've heard of schools that offer excellent accomodations within the dining halls - try a search function on the board here. Like I said, I'm sure many schools like my own undergrad would be willing to provide your daughter with an apartment (vs. dorm room) so she can prepare her own meals, but I think that it's also important to recognize that this may limit her socially - as she may live alone, or be placed with upper classmen.

Just my 2 cents!

- Lauren