Answer 1

Parenting a teen with a food allergy can be stressful and planning to send your teen off to college can increase one’s anxiety. When your teen enters college, the ‘rules’ will change. There is a major shift in responsibilities when a teen transitions from high school to college. In college, the student is the primary advocate. So, as she enters adulthood, your teen must advocate for herself. Below are strategies to help you prepare your teen for this self-advocacy role as she starts to explore options for higher education.

Research. Help your teen research colleges that best match her interests, academic abilities, personal, social, and financial needs. Encourage her to explore her own interests, determine the qualities that will make a college a right match and prioritize what is important to her in choosing a college (e.g., strong academics, cost/availability of financial aid, food allergy accommodations, etc.). Remind her that she is so much more than her food allergies. With over 4000 colleges and universities in the U.S., the job of researching and developing a solid list of colleges can be overwhelming however taking the time to prioritize what is important will help your teen narrow down a potential college list.

Explore. While researching colleges, encourage your teen to explore all aspects of the college or university. This includes not only becoming familiar with dining and food service options but becoming familiar with disability services, health services, residence life (e.g., housing), and counseling services. She should keep track of which colleges provide reasonable accommodations and know who the ‘go to’ people are in each service area. Unlike high school where your teen may have interacted with only one or two offices such as counseling or the school nurse, college services are decentralized and will vary widely from one college to the next. So, while exploring college campuses, ask your teen to contact an adviser to discuss the services offered for students with special dietary needs.

Advocate. Learning the art of requesting accommodations and advocating for themselves is an important skill for food-allergic teens to master. In college, your teen must identify that she has a disability that requires accommodations. So, prior to stepping foot on campus, your teen will need to be able to articulate her needs both in written and verbal form. It is important to note that while your teen is not required to tell the college before being admitted about her food allergy, it does not hurt to plan ahead. Your teen must understand the process and expect to navigate it on her own.

Develop a plan. During the beginning stage of the college search process, help your teen prepare a plan and role play various scenarios to help her prepare for situations that she may encounter in advance. Also, both you and your teen must understand the legal landscape in higher education as it relates to your student’s rights and responsibilities. Once in college, your teen must self-advocate. If she chooses to disclose her food allergies after she has been accepted, she will need to communicate with the appropriate college officials in order to receive the necessary accommodations. Finding the right match means to find a place where your teen will thrive and where her academic abilities and social interests match what a college or university has to offer. For a teen with food allergies, the right college is also one that is able to accommodate her special needs in a supportive, allergy-aware environment. Your teen will not only find the right college but with your guidance as an advocate role model, she will have the self-advocacy skills that will assist her in achieving academic and social success.

Answer 2

That's a really good question filled with concern, valid concern. What you can do is speak to the admissions office, explain the situation and ask for the individual who you can speak with in Food Services that will be able to help you. Once you have this individual's name and contact info., you can share your concerns by asking what type of food is served on campus which your child would be able to consume. Each and every college will be able to meet the dietary needs of your child but I think you would feel better to hear this personally.

Students With Food Allergies Should Visit their Physician Before Going to College

At the same time your teen, will be living in the dorm, on the campus socializing away from home. He or she will need to exercise self-control and responsibility when it comes to their health. Prior to their leaving perhaps visit with your child's physician to review their particular food allergies, what to avoid, and what to do if consumed, etc. Allowing he or she to speak directly with their doctor will help them to take charge of their own health care (while you are sitting next to them) and then go over the information once more before they leave. Review with them the food choices they can make that will not impact their health.

Student with Food Allergies Need to Take Responsibility for their Health

Be sure they are aware of where the health office is on campus just in case and always, think about asking them to sign a wavier giving the college to speak to you about your child. HIPPA laws prohibit schools from sharing information without written consent on the part of your child now seen at age 18 as an adult by the world at large. The larger picture dictates that college students take responsibility for their own well being, but the even larger picture dictates that they will always be your child. Therefore, you will always be concerned. Being well informed is the best line of defense combined with a wavier for the sharing of information. Good Luck! Janice Kirn-Sottilaro

Answer 3

Researching Colleges that Accommodate Food Allergies

If you are a student with food allergies, celiac disease, food intolerance, or other food sensitivities, it’s important to research, not only schools that are a good match academically and socially, but also which colleges and universities have a plan in place to accommodate food allergies. This can put added pressure on the college application process. However, with some advance planning and knowledge, the stress can be reduced.

Who to Speak to on College Campuses About Food Allergies

To understand how colleges handle food allergies, and what protocols and policies are in place, you’ll need to go beyond the admissions office. Some of those who you’ll want to talk to include the food services director, a campus registered dietician or nutritionist, and the Office of Disabilities. You’ll also want to have conversations with Emergency Services to learn how they treat allergic reactions. In addition, talking with housing will provide you with an understanding of available living arrangements and options in the dorms or other college housing.

Visit College Campuses to Learn How Food Allergies are Handled

Once you have a list of schools that you are planning to apply to, visit the campuses so you can get a first-hand look at the dorms and visit the dining hall. There are colleges and universities that take extensive measures to accommodate students with food allergies, including having special food stations, and some have cooking areas that are allergen free.

Five schools that have dining halls focusing on safety and accommodations for students with food allergies and other food sensitivities are:

• Syracuse University- http://foodservices.syr.edu/nutritional/special-needs/
• Georgetown University-https://auxiliary.georgetown.edu/diningaccommodations/#
• Cornell University-https://living.cornell.edu/dine/whoweare/nutrition/allergies.cfm
• The University of Alabama-http://bamadining.ua.edu/food-allergies/
• University of Arizona-http://nutrition.union.arizona.edu/dietary-needs

Food Allergy Research and Education

For additional information on how colleges and universities handle food allergies, visit the organization, Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE). It has information for those with food allergies on how to navigate college life as well as a food allergy college search feature to find out about food allergy accommodations on college campuses. 

What Students with Food Allergies Need to Do After Being Accepted to College

When the student receives college acceptances, they should talk to the following campus offices. This can help the student to determine which college or university he or she will ultimately attend:

• Office of Disabilities- Find out if they need documentation from your physician. Obtain specifics on the process for handling food allergies. Ask questions regarding how students with allergies are accommodated.
• Dining Services- Discuss food options, how they handle food allergies, and what is done to keep students with allergies safe.
• Housing or Residential Life-Determine if the school allows students to have their own microwave and refrigerator in their dorm room, and inquire whether the dorm has an allergy-free kitchen.

Off to College!

When students go off to college they will have to manage their allergies on their own. Discuss a list of scenarios so they understand who on campus they can contact for help, and then you will feel confident about sending them off on their own.

Contact Us

SpanOne college counselors can help students with food allergies create a list of colleges that are a good match. Sign up for a free consultation, and get started on the college application process.