Suit says Pennsylvania district mishandled student's allergies

Nov. 13, 2012
Fox Chapel Area district accused of subjecting student to isolation and ridicule

From The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: A lawsuit contends that the Fox Chapel Area (Pa.) School District didn't adequately address a student's severe allergy to tree nuts and subjected him to ridicule by seating him alone in the cafeteria. The lawsuit alleges that the district violated the federal Rehabilitation Act, resulting in "disability-based harassment" for the student. The parents subsequently enrolled the student, identified only as T.F., in a private school. In fall 2010, he enrolled at Fairview Elementary School after administrators told his parents that there was a "nut-free table" in the school. But the suit contends that there was no nut-free table and the district's plan to prevent T.F. from coming into contact with tree nuts was not detailed or sufficient. The student twice developed hives, once had an itchy lip and facial swelling, and had a full-blown reaction including vomiting and throat problems.

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