My daughter, a current 8th grader at a middle school in Long Beach New York School District, has been living with an airborne peanut allergy and severe asthma for her entire life. Entering the middle school she has been a target of bullying due to her allergy, exacerbated by the lack of universal rules regarding nut allergies in schools. Unfortunately, she has been administered her epi pen on over three different occasions due to incidents of exposure at school. The cruel jests from her peers about her supposedly "faking" her allergy has led not only to emotional harm but also physical danger. Our daughter came out the womb fighting as a micro premie born as a twin at 25 weeks gestation. She survived her twin sister and stayed in the NICU 111 days. My cries to the Superintendent and Principal has gone on deaf ears. 

This situation has made it abundantly clear that we need to standardize nut-free environments in all Long Beach School District schools. Approximately 5.6 million children under age 18 suffer from food allergies in the United States, with peanuts being one of the most common. (Food Allergy Research & Education.) Moreover, the CDC reports that food allergies in children increased by about 50% between 1997 and 2011, reinforcing the pressing need for allergen-safe practices in our education system.

The situation my daughter experiences daily reflects an urgent necessity, not just a personal issue. Implementing a district-wide rule would not only protect students with allergies, but it could also contribute to a reduction in bullying incidents derived from these conditions. Making Long Beach School District a peanut-free zone is an essential step towards securing the health and safety of students. Please sign this petition and help us make a change that could save lives.