Doing More Harm Than Good?

According to a paper published by University of Alberta law professor Eric M. Adams, new research suggests that it’s time to talk about the best way to respond to allergies in schools.

 

Anaphylactic allergy is considered a disability under both the federal Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and provincial human rights law. So schools and daycares are legally bound to accommodate people with the allergies.

 

The question is, are we doing more harm that good, with the systems most have put into place by just banning them? It may not be the best idea.

 

Eric M. Adams and his co-authors Blake Murdoch and Timothy Caulfield say that blanket bans do not appear to be legally required and it might be time to look for other solutions. In some cases, that could mean putting peanuts back in lunch and snack rotation.

 

According to Food Allergy Canada, two out of every 100 kids have peanut allergies, and six to eight percent of kids under age three are thought to have a food allergies.

 

But the 'set it and forget it' approach to dealing with the issue causes some kids to feel safe when they shouldn't, risking reactions and hospital visits. Is it time for staff and families create a custom plan, based on the needs of each student with an allergy. If they have someone in the classroom with an allergy it's one thing and if not another. Will that help remind kids with allergies, to be more self aware and have their own plans to deal with the issue in their schools?