Thank you for your reply. I am actually very involved with our school/district. I was the VP of our PTO but stopped.
I am very aware that it takes advocating for your child. I do this day in and day out and have successfully helped my district to implement new food allergy management guidelines. Unfortunately, it doesn't help w/PTO/PTA events as they are non-school sponsored. I know that nothing is 100% risk free and there will always be risks. It's life. That said, it's about what you can and can't do. I think there is more that PTO/PTA's can do to ensure the safety and health of all children. For one, keeping the food contained in the cafeteria is one simple way to help.
In our district, there have been cases of anaphylaxis due to food being used in places like the classrooms etc after PTA events. Our kids would like to participate in these events just as any other child would but sometimes it's just too dangerous, and it doesn't have to be. It can be managed correctly so that all children can attend. The National PTO says that they are inclusive to ALL students but sometimes I think that message gets lost.
All I ask is that we all are aware of students with disabilities, whether hidden (like food allergies) or not. They deserve the same access to these fun events as their non-disabled peers.
As caring parents who only want to make the school and its programs better, we'd do what we could to help.
However, the PTO is a loose-knit group of volunteers. It's not nearly the same as employees who can have training and staff meetings and procedures to implement appropriate measures within an environment.
Any PTO activity would happen during the day, when the teachers and staff are responsible for the students or after hours at family events where a parent is responsible.
I'm not entirely sure what you mean by "does that mean the bylaws dictate what is appropriate as far as inclusive activities." But I'd say, "no" this does not really fit as a PTO requirement that would be in the bylaws.
I'm sure PTOs would do what they could to help for a given situation. But knowing these are untrained volunteers, you would need to be pro-active about specifics. As far as anything affecting school-wide practices such as no food outside the cafeteria, they would look to the principal for decisions.
Suppose what you are referring to (and I'm purely guessing) is a school-wide carnival.
We couldn't easily have ALL the food booths in the cafeteria because of space and mess (i.e. snow-cones have to be outside), and traffic flow. But if we were aware of a situation like yours - and you worked with us - we could probably arrange all the food booths either in the cafeteria or outside but only on one side, where your daughter could visit all/most of the activities without getting near food booths. On the other hand, we have a "cafetorium", combination cafeteria/auditorium. So it would be impossible to not use the cafeteria for activities such as bingo and announcements. It's the only large space where people can sit and that's where the stage and sound equipment are.
As far as the food allergies, what did you have in mind? And, frankly, no matter what the PTO did/promised, would you ever feel confident enough to allow your daughter to consume food prepared by an unknown person in at a public event? I ask this because I have a friend with a child in that situation. She said no matter how well meaning people are, she can't be 100% sure certain ingredients weren't used.)
I think progress can be made, but it will take you being involved from the planning stage and helping to find workable solutions.
If you want to explain more about the specific challenges, we might be able to help with ideas.
I have 3 kids with disabilities including a son on the autism spectrum. That said, I have the most difficult time getting my daughter with multiple life threatening food allergies accommodated and included in activities because nearly everything involves food. I think if at least the food is contained in the cafeteria and not brought out to the rest of the school she would be safe. That said, if it's not contained, it makes it difficult for her to have fun and just be a kid becuase she'll (and I will) be hyper aware of the environment, focusing on who's eating what and what they touched. Praying that this fun event won't end up in a hospital stay.
Considering our school has a PTO, does that mean the bylaws dictate what is appropriate as far as inclusive activities?
Do you accommodate the students with the hidden disability of food allergies?
