Special Diets
The Deer Park ISD Child Nutrition Department is dedicated to meeting the nutritional needs of its students, including students with documented medical disabilities. USDA regulations require that substitutions or modifications be made in school meals for children whose disabilities restrict their diets when that need is certified by a licensed healthcare professional. Under section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 a “person with a disability” means any person who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, has a record of such an impairment, or is regarded as having such an impairment.” The term “physical or mental impairment” includes many conditions including but not limited to: Cancer, Cerebral Palsy, Diabetes, Food Anaphylaxis (severe food allergy), Heart Disease, and Phenylketonuria (PKU). The licensed healthcare professional who completes the “Diet Modification” form needs to indicate if a child’s medical condition is considered a disability.
Each special dietary request must be supported by a statement that explains the food substitution that is requested. The statement must identify:
- the child’s allergy or disability
- an explanation of why the disability restricts the child’s diet
- the major life activity affected by the disability
- the food(s) to be omitted from the child’s diet and the food or choice of foods that must be substituted.
- an explanation of why the disability restricts the child’s diet
- the major life activity affected by the disability
- the food(s) to be omitted from the child’s diet and the food or choice of foods that must be substituted.
A “Diet Modification” form is only needed if the student plans to eat school meals.
Please ask your child’s physician to complete the form below and return it to your campus nurse or to the Child Nutrition office at 309 West P Street, Deer Park, TX 77536. If we do not have this form on file, we will be unable to provide alternate meals or beverages to your child. If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact my office at 832-668-7042.