Food Allergies Working Group
I. Current status
Disability Services (Susan Quinby, 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 Barnard 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-related documentation as per the ODS Disability Documentation
Guidelines (DDG). Students are asked to prepare a list of all foods they are
currently able to eat which is then used as a springboard for discussion and
action-planning in a three-way meeting w/ Goldi and Susan. Plans are monitored
and reviewed throughout the semester.
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, there are no exemptions from the required meal
plan. Upper class students may wish to submit a Disability Related Housing
Request 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.
We have been working with students with a
variety of food allergies on an individualized basis--procuring appropriate and
supplemental foods as needed and preparing individual meals. Both Dining
Services and Disability Services maintain a list of self-identified students
with food allergies---and students are encouraged to keep us informed about
ongoing needs or any problems that may arise. Because Disability Services and
Dining Services are in close proximity to each other and to the cafeteria
(Hewitt Hall)--communication lines are kept open. Goldi Juer and Susan Quinby
meet on a regular basis to address needs and concerns.
We are excited about the addition of a new consulting nutritionist to be
attached to Dining Services and who will work directly with the Food Allergies
Working Group. Hours will be flexible and by appointment and we will conduct a
needs assessment with current students to prioritize areas for future service
delivery (e.g. assisting students with food shopping; healthy food options on
campus; compiling a directory of *food-allergies friendly* restaurants in the
local vicinity; etc.)
II. Next steps
1. We have been working on an informal basis with an outside/consulting
nutritionist--and as of 2/1/09, the consultant will be working on-campus on a
part-time basis directly with Dining Services and the Food Allergies Working
Group.
2. The Food Allergies Working Group has developed a communications system for
regular monitoring of student needs and concerns.
3. Dining Services is in the process of instituting food labeling (re:
gluten-free; peanuts; tree nuts; other allergens) in Hewitt cafeteria and Java
City Cafe by the close of the SP'09 term.
4. We will be providing food allergies awareness training to all Dining Services
staff.
5. Information re: assistance for students with food allergies is being
developed for use on all relevant Barnard websites, including but not limited
to: Dining Services, Disability Services, Residential Life and Housing,
Admissions, Student Health Service.
6. A new Dining Services Advisory Committee is being formed to be co-coordinated
by Dining Services and Disability Services which will address
issues/concerns/ideas for Hewitt Cafeteria; Java City Cafe; and campus vending
machines.
Additional Information