Food Allergies Working Group

Introduction/Background

In consultation with the Primary Care Health Service (Dr. Marjorie Seidenfeld, Medical Director)--Disability Services (Morgan Murray, Director) and Dining Services (Goldi Juer, Director of Operations) serve as co-chairs of a working group on food allergies and work closely to assist students with diagnosed food allergies in determining reasonable accommodations. As with all other students with disabilities, students must first register with ODS and present appropriate disability documentation as per the ODS Disability Documentation Guidelines  the Model Template.

 
For both first-year and upper-class students with food allergies who live in residence halls with required meal plans, student needs are responded to on a case-by-case basis; however, it is important to note that there are *no* exemptions from the required meal plan. With careful advance planning and teamwork between the student and our working group--in consultation with the student's clinician--we have been able to respond effectively and creatively in a variety of individual situations.  
 
We work with students with a variety of food allergies on an individual basis--procuring appropriate and supplemental foods if/when possible. Both Dining Services and Disability Services maintain an ongoing list of self-identified students with food allergies--and students are also encouraged to keep us informed about ongoing needs or any problems that arise. Because Disability Services and Dining Services are located in close proximity to each other and to the cafeteria (Hewitt Hall)--communication lines are easily kept open. Goldi Juer and Susan Quinby meet on a regular basis to address needs and concerns.

Protocol for Students  

1. Students may be referred to the Food Allergies Working Group via self-referral, campus administrators or faculty, clinicians or parents--and may do so at any time during their college careers after receipt of a disability diagnosis--though certainly the sooner the better!  
2.  As stated previously, students needing accommodations should submit their documentation directly to ODS via email (ods@barnard.edu) or fax (212/854-7491) using the Disability Doumentation Guidelines (DDG) and Model Template.  
3. After the DDG has been reviewed and accepted, students complete the brief (four-question) ODS Pre-Registration: Student Self-Assessment and schedule an appointment to register with ODS.  
4.  Following ODS registration, Morgan Murray sends an email of introduction to both Dining Services Nutritionist Ina Tsagarakis and the student -- introducing the student and asking that they set up a time to meet and discuss specific food needs so that Ina can develop an individual accommodations plan. In advance of the meeting, students are asked to send an email to Ina a curent list of foods that are eaten -- which can they be used as an important springboard for discussion and planning.  
5. Because of the importance of ongoing consultation with the Primary Care Health Services (PCHS), students should email PCHS Medical Director Dr. Marjorie Seidenfeld (mseidenfeld@barnard.edu) their responses to the following three questions:  1. Do you have a food allergy that has resulted in weight loss? 2. Do you have a food allergy/intolerance that is associated with a specific illness? 3. Do you have food allergy/intolerance to foods in multiple food groups?  Please copy Morgan Murray (mmurray@barnard.edu) in your response; Dr. Seidenfeld may be in touch with you to schedule a check-in appointment with PCHS Nutritionist Nicole Anziani (212/854-2091).  
6. Ina emails a copy of her completed acommodations plan to Goldi Juer and Morgan Murray--and a three-way meeting is set up to jointly discuss the student's individual situation and what accommodations can be reasonably provided at Barnard.  
7. After this three-way meeting, Goldi meets directly with the student to operationalize the plan--a meeting which usually includes a tour of the cafeteria and introductions to key kitchen staff who the student can contact as needed.  
8. As stated previously, students should keep Dining Services and Disability Services well-informed as to how their needs are being met so that modifications and/or adjustments can be made as necessary and if possible.

Disability Housing Requests  

Upper class students with diagnosed disabilities may wish to submit a Disability Housing Request (DHR) for access to a room assignment with kitchen access. All requests are reviewed in spring (for returning students) and summer (for newly admitted students) by the Disability Housing Committee which includes representatives from Disability Services, Furman Counseling Center, Primary Care Health Service and Residential Life--joined by the First-Year Dean for review of first-year student requests.