Well, this thread is starting with some great news. My daughter was accepted into a local public school with an arts focus. She'll get to spend 90 minutes a day in a theatre class, in addition to a rigorous academic program. She has attended a private, Catholic school up to this point, where a 504 plan would not apply.

If it was just a "normal" public school, I would probably address the issue of exposure to gluten the way I have now--by working with the teachers and staff directly.

However, because of the arts-focus of the school, they will be doing work with face makeup as well as visual arts programs (I have visions of mass-flour floating around from paper machier projects), I think it is just a gluten-disaster waiting to happen. Not to mention a lot of other activities, such as travel, that happen as part of this program. So, we're thinking a 504 plan might be for us, to ensure she has a safe environment as well as ensure her teachers know (as well as they possibly can) the true risk gluten exposure can cause and finding alternative activities and products for her, if necessary. We might ask for the use of a microwave during lunch to eat up that ever-so-awful-cold gluten-free food.

I've seen a few samples of 504 plans I really like, so I think I know what direction I want to go with it. This is a really great opportunity for her (she auditioned against over 100 other students to get 1 of 14 spots in the theatre program).

Any experiences, good and bad you want to share about your 504 plan, or why you chose not to go that route?

Congrats to your daughter on getting into such a great school! That's quite an achievement. That said, I know nothing about 504 plans Hopefully someone who knows something about them will reply soon.

Thanks so much! (I guess no one is in the mood to discuss 504 plans, and I'm scouring the earth for gluten-free stage makeup!)

She had to write an essay on why she wanted to go to school there, and the theme was that as isolating as celiac can be, when she is on stage, she gets to be like everyone else and that performing makes her feel normal and free from the disease.

I am a very, very proud mama. (what's even better is since it is a public magnet school, it is not tuition-based, so it was like getting a $600 raise per month when she starts!). So, now we'll have more money to buy her gluten-free food. LOL.

My son has an iep due to emotional difficulties, so I dont really know much about a 504, but I can tell you, getting an IEP was a total fight - the school kept saying that if his disability didnt get in the way of his education, they were not obligated to give him any specail treatment. Finally he failed out of the gifted program, and they agreed to help him

Anyways, there's a website called wrightslaw, i think, which is all about IEP and I believe also 504, you might want to check there.

Also, with or without a 504, you'll still have to work with the teachers a lot - no matter what the IEP (or 504) says, if its not enforced, or there's no buy-in, the teachers will feel free to ignore it or 'forget'.

good luck and congrads to your daughter