Let's accommodate peanut allergy girl, continued.
Creative Commons image credit, below
. . . . . First, is a potentially fatal peanut allergy a "disability" covered under the ADA? Until I see the case law, I don't know -- but I would be inclined to say that it is.
Second, assuming that the potentially fatal peanut allergy is a disability under the ADA, that would require the school to make "reasonable accommodations." The last time I checked, washing one's hands before meals was considered a basic aspect of hygiene. If I were a parent protesting this requirement, I would be a little embarrassed. Second, washing one's hands after meals probably isn't a bad idea, either -- and it shouldn't take that long.
And, by the way, the picture above -- unrelated to this particular story -- is licensed by Creative Commons. I chose the photo, however, as a kind of analogy: a single tree in a field of what appear to be benign flowers. Can the flowers bend a little to accommodate the tree? Can the other parents bend a little to accommodate an allergy? After all, what if it is their child who is later determined to have a serious allergy?
Some protesters are apparently saying the child should be home-schooled. Of course, this is patently absurd. It is tantamount to the experience of many of us who must eat gluten free. In many cases we are isolated or even not invited to family meals, restaurants, etc., because of the "fuss" that looking at a few labels might cause.
I say, "Go, Peanut Allergy Girl!"
Second, assuming that the potentially fatal peanut allergy is a disability under the ADA, that would require the school to make "reasonable accommodations." The last time I checked, washing one's hands before meals was considered a basic aspect of hygiene. If I were a parent protesting this requirement, I would be a little embarrassed. Second, washing one's hands after meals probably isn't a bad idea, either -- and it shouldn't take that long.
And, by the way, the picture above -- unrelated to this particular story -- is licensed by Creative Commons. I chose the photo, however, as a kind of analogy: a single tree in a field of what appear to be benign flowers. Can the flowers bend a little to accommodate the tree? Can the other parents bend a little to accommodate an allergy? After all, what if it is their child who is later determined to have a serious allergy?
Some protesters are apparently saying the child should be home-schooled. Of course, this is patently absurd. It is tantamount to the experience of many of us who must eat gluten free. In many cases we are isolated or even not invited to family meals, restaurants, etc., because of the "fuss" that looking at a few labels might cause.
I say, "Go, Peanut Allergy Girl!"
