9 replies to this topic

[patz16]

I'm trying to find out how I could get a college to consider me for university apartment housing instead of a regular dorm. I would need a kitchen because I really doubt that they will have a good gluten free meal plan. Is gluten intolerance ( believe I have celiac disease but doctor is a total idiot) covered with disabilities? I'm interested in a public university in Florida

[mushroom]

If you do a quick google of "college, celiac, ADA" you will get a good start on this topic. It has been discussed often on here.

[patz16]

Thanks so much for the heads up. Never even heard of the ADA before now. Found out a lot. I'm going to start to apply for housing with a few months, and I guess i will have to make a lot of calls.

[shadowicewolf]

Unfortienently, without an official dx of either an intolerence or celiac, they cannot do much for you. If you were officially dx'd, then by law (ADA) they would have to accomodate. This is done with a letter written by the doctor to give the school stating what you needed.

[Skysmom03]

This is exactly why anyone who believes they or their children have this disease should get an endoscopy ( the only true way to determine whether or not you have full blown disease)! With a DX, you qualify for a section 504. Anything you need with regard to education and maintaining your health has to be served!

[mushroom]

This is exactly why anyone who believes they or their children have this disease should get an endoscopy ( the only true way to determine whether or not you have full blown disease)! With a DX, you qualify for a section 504. Anything you need with regard to education and maintaining your health has to be served!

This is why we always warn people to do their best to get a diagnosis, if they are going to be involved with the school system, the military, or any other situation where an official diagnosis is essential.

[patz16]

Good thing I checked back. I went gluten free in April when my aunt suggested it (my cousin is gluten intolerant) as I was really sick and losing weight (lost 40 was 15 and female) During the summer, I made a trip to a different island to see a pediatric gastroenterologist. He did about maybe 12 CT scans and then a colonoscopy.
I did not receive any contact again until last week. He said that I had "bumps on the inside of my small intestine which suggest that I must be allergic to something I am eating” I asked him if this would suggest celiac disease. He said no but he suggests that I discontinue eating soy.
I continued eating soy. I am still getting better since I stopped having gluten in April. I can't eat anything that may have been cross contaminated and if I do I have constant pain for about 5-7 days in my stomach. *cringes just remembering*
The doctors here are total idiots and I really have given up even going.

[rebeccanicole88]

I am in an internship program now that accommodates for my Celiac the best that they can. I get out in May and would like to go to a university. I do not know how they would accommodate for me. If they would need a doctors note or something from the doctor. The doctor that did my colonoscopy and endoscopy said that she saw nothing but I was off of gluten when she did the test. I have been told I have Celiac by a doctor, a gluten intolerance by another doctor, and one of the doctors I had told me, "If it makes you sick, don't eat it." I'm going to be doing some research now.

[dilettantesteph]

My daughter is at McGill university. They agreed to give her an individual apartment in a dorm setting with her own kitchen with a doctor's note. She decided to stay off campus anyway. She found an apartment which was a better deal than the dorms, but she regrets it now as she had a lonely first semester. She has made more friends now and should be O.K. for her second semester.

You don't necessarily need a tested diagnosis for celiac disease, at least at this university. You just need a doctor who is willing to say that you need your own kitchen due to gluten intolerance sensitive to cross contamination.

[keeponsingin]

One of my best friends was diagnosed with Celiac during our freshman year of college. At my school, you can't live off campus unless you live at home with your parents, and you can't live in an apartment until your junior year. My friend made it work by having a refrigerator (mini one) in her room along with a microwave. And the dining hall was extremely accommodating! She talked to the chef(s) who would, at her request, get her gluten free food items including but not limited to breads for sandwiches, wraps and even meats that had not been cross-contaminated.