You've just received a note from a parent of a new student, stating that your school must become "absolutely peanut-free," as her son has a severe peanut allergy and will go into anaphylactic shock if he is even in the same room with a peanut! What do you do? This article will address the obligations of an independent school as it relates to students with disabilities by focusing on 10 essential questions to ask yourself when receiving such a note from a parent.

Question 1 – Does The Law Apply To You?

First, while you may choose to address this situation for the well-being of the child, are you legally obligated to follow all of the requirements of the laws related to students with disabilities? Essentially, there are two laws which could apply to this situation – Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Your state or city may also have local ordinances that mirror these two laws.