Introduction: Managing Celiac Disease in Learning Environments

Celiac disease is a common autoimmune condition that affects approximately 1 percent of children in the United States, most of whom attend federal and state-supported learning programs every weekday. When patients with celiac disease eat gluten (a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley), this stimulates the immune system to attack itself, leading to inflammation and damage to the nutrient-absorbing villi in the small intestine. Both inflammation and malnutrition caused by celiac disease can lead to severe limitations of bodily function and complications that have significant effects on children and their families, as well as on the learning institution they attend. The Celiac Disease School Action Guidelines for Education (SAGE) Training Program was designed by the Celiac Disease Program at Children’s National Hospital and the Celiac Disease Foundation with conceptual, technical and editorial help from other institutions including RESOLVE, Boston Children’s Hospital, Colorado Children’s Hospital, Mass General Hospital for Children, University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center, Columbia University Celiac Disease Center, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, Seattle Children’s Hospital, and Mayo Clinic. The program is designed to provide educators, health care professionals, food service providers, and parents and guardians with tools to create and maintain an environment that reduces the risk of gluten exposure for children with celiac disease. This training program will complement the recommendations found in the 2020 Voluntary Recommendations for Managing Celiac Disease in Learning Environments. These recommendations advocate developing a Celiac Disease Management Plan for children with celiac disease. A successful plan depends on a strong partnership among families, medical practitioners, and staff in learning environments to help children overcome challenges associated with having celiac disease. The necessary tools are found in the following training modules: • Introduction: The 2020 Voluntary Recommendations for Managing Celiac Disease in Learning Environments • Celiac Disease Overview • The Gluten-Free Diet • Federal Laws and Regulations that Apply to Celiac Disease in Learning Environments • Supporting Educational and Social Emotional Development of Children with Celiac Disease • Families with Celiac Disease: What to Expect at School • For Schools: There’s a Student with Celiac Disease at My School. Now What? • For Medical Providers Who Diagnose and Manage Celiac Disease Patients • Where Gluten is Found in School and How to Prevent Exposure • Safe Gluten-Free Practices in Shared Kitchen Environments (Cafeterias) Please download the 2020 Voluntary Recommendations for Managing Celiac Disease in Learning Environments before proceeding with the training modules at: https://celiac.org/main/wp-content/up... If you have questions about the program, please contact Vanessa Weisbrod at vanessa.weisbrod@childrens.harvard.edu