Meal Modification Request
The Harwood Unified Union School District follows the guidance published by the United States Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service entitled "Accommodating Children with Disabilities in the School Meal Programs: Guidance for School Food Service Professionals."
The document explains that the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 distinguishes between:
DEFINITION OF A DISABILITY
A physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities of such individual
A record of such an impairment
Being regarded as having such an impairment
DEFINITION OF A GENERAL HEALTH CONCERN
A preference that a child eat a specific diet because the parent or guardian believes it is healthier for the child
In a disability situation, as described above, the HUUSD will require a medical statement to make a meal modification. A general health concern is not a disability and does not require schools to make a modification.
HUUSD Procedure to Request Meal Modifications
The HUUSD has adopted the procedure below for parents/guardians to request meal modifications for their students with disabilities.
Download this Special Dietary Medical Statement created by the Vermont Agency of Education Child Nutrition Programs.
Ask your child's doctor to complete the above form, if necessary. The form is a fillable pdf, if you download it and open it with Adobe.
If a child's IEP or 504 already contains the specific meal modification required, the parent/guardian only needs to complete the top of the form and submit via the Google form, below.
If a child's IEP or 504 does NOT contain the specific meal modification required, the HUUSD requires the information on the form and that the doctor sign by hand or use a signature stamp in the Signature field.
Complete the Google form to finish the process. Google FORM
You will need to upload the Special Dietary Medical Statement signed or stamped by your child's doctor (if signature required).
Complete the Google form even if your child's IEP or 504 already contains the information about the meal modification.
The school will follow up with the doctor as necessary.
After Completing the Request
Please email Co-Director Erika Dolan at edolan@huusd.org
Erika will work with the school nurse to verify that all the provided information is correct or if we need more information.
She will work with the school nurse and food & nutrition team in each school to follow doctor's recommendations on how to provide meal modifications to your student.
