N.J. college has violated the Americans with Disabilities Act, by not welcoming students with celiac disease

In July 2016, a student from Rider University, New Jersey, filed a complaint with the Department of Justice, arguing that the school had not taken the necessary steps to accommodate students suffering from homelessness. Serious food allergies. The student has celiac disease, an immune disease triggered by gluten. NJ.com reports that the Department of Justice has acknowledged that Rider's policies violate the Americans with Disabilities Act, which gives Congress the power "to address the major discrimination issues faced by people with disabilities." daily".

The university does not agree with this conclusion, but agreed to make changes to the preparation of meals on campus. One of these changes, said a snowmobile spokesperson on NJ.com, includes a new food preparation area that excludes the most common foods that can cause allergies. Under the terms of the settlement, Rider also agreed to hire a full-time dietitian to advise students on how to manage food allergies.

If you were not aware, like me, that food allergies are qualified for ADA disabilities, please read: According to the American Foundation Against Asthma and Allergies , allergies are generally considered disabilities under this law. Under section 504, a disability interferes with one or more of a person's "life activities" such as breathing, eating, moving, etc. As a food allergy harms a person's diet, it is considered a disability by law.

With new research showing that half of adults with food allergies developed them into adulthood, college dining rooms could be a place for people to discover or aggravate new food allergies. . And we now know that they are legally required to accommodate these guests.