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Disability Services Dietary Accommodations

As a residential college, Westmont requires that all students living on campus participate in the meal plan with the exception of those living in the Global Learning Center (GLC). Westmont is committed to providing the opportunity for all students to fully participate in College life, including the dining experience.  The meal plan description is available through the Westmont Housing Office.

Westmont’s Dining Commons offers a wide variety of options accommodating many dietary needs, including food allergies/intolerances and chronic health conditions. Virtually all students’ dietary needs can be met through the standard meal plan options. Exemptions are rare and are made on a case-by-case basis for those students with documented health conditions.

If you have a condition that requires a modified or restricted diet, please follow the steps below before pursuing a Meal Plan Exemption. Financial restrictions are not a sufficient reason to request a Meal Plan Exemption.

Meal Plan Modifications Procedure

Step 1

Read and review the Nutrition page on the Westmont Dining website. 

Step 2

Complete the Diet & Nutrition Accommodation Questionnaire. Request a cost-free meeting with a Sodexo AllerTrainU Manager or a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) on this questionnaire. A Sodexo staff member will respond via email. 

Step 3

Once a meeting with the Sodexo Manager is established, the AllerTrainU Manager or RDN will work with you to determine dietary options and create an Individual Medical Meal Plan(IMMP). By actively working together, the IMMP can be modified and adjusted as needed.This IMMP or diet/nutrition plan will be appropriately communicated with dining managers and staff.

In your meeting, the AllerTrainU Manager or RDN will work with you to determine dietary options and create an Individual Medical Meal Plan (IMMP). By actively working together, the IMMP can be modified and adjusted as needed. This IMMP or diet/nutrition plan will be appropriately communicated with dining managers and staff.

Note: Your diagnosis will not be revealed to Sodexo dining staff. However, due to the severity of some allergic reactions, it may be necessary to inform appropriate dining staff and other personnel of your dietary restrictions in order to assist in accommodating your needs.

What if...

 An exemption will not be considered until all previous steps have been completed.

Once all steps above have been exhausted and Dining Services determines that your dietary needs cannot be met through an Individual Medical Meal Plan (IMMP), and dining services has notified ODS, you may follow the steps for registering as a student with a disability for Meal Plan Exemption.

Step 1                     

Complete the Housing/Meal Plan Accommodation application (online portal) and request the appropriate Medical Disability or Dietary documentation form (see additional information below) to be completed by your licensed professional. Once all paperwork is received and reviewed by the ODS Director, you will have an initial meeting with the Director.

Documentation Requirements

Your documentation should be current (within the last year). Your provider can complete the Housing/Meal Plan Provider form.

As an alternative, your provider can provide the same information requested on the documentation form on professional letterhead. This letter should include:

  • Student name and date of birth
  • Name, credential, license number, signature and contact information of the provider,
  • Diagnosis with DSM-V and/or ICD-9 code(s) and date of diagnosis,
  • The nature of the disability and the functional impact in the context of the dietary environment (i.e. what difficulty/barrier might the student experience related to their condition related to the dining experience).
  • Major life activities impacted by disability
  • Severity of allergy and specific foods/ingredients to avoid
  • Prescribed diet and description of recommended accommodations
  • Time frame provider has treated patient and date of most recent clinical contact with student
  • Past and current treatment

Return forms and/or letters to ODS@westmont.edu or by fax at 805-565-7244.  All documentation will reside in ODS, but ODS may share medical documentation/diagnosis with the Registered Dietitian/Sodexo Manager, Health Center and all members of the Meal Plan Review Committee.

Step 2                     

Your meal plan exemption request and supporting documentation will be reviewed by a committee of staff members from Office of Disability Services (ODS), Health Center, Westmont Dining Services and a Registered Dietary Nutritionist. This process may take 10 to 15 business days. You will be notified of the outcome of their decision. A follow-up meeting may be scheduled to discuss specific needs and to establish a plan.

  • Step 1 Read Nutrition page
  • Step 2 Complete Questionnaire
  • Step 3 Meet with Dining Staff
  • What if...

Other Information

Renewing

Please note, meal plan exemption requests must be made on an annual basis. Previous accommodations are not automatically extended and you will need to contact Disability Services prior to a new academic year. Requests for approval of renewal of meal plan modification may be made by emailing request to ODS@westmont.edu, listing reasons for request for renewal, and arranging for meeting with director to discuss requested accommodations.


 

Appeals

Students have the right to appeal the Review Committee's decision. Please refer to the ODS Grievance Procedures. 


 

Questions?

Questions for ODS? For questions related to a disability please contact the Office of Disability Services at 805-565-6135 or ODS@westmont.edu.


 

  • Renewing Meal Plan Modifications
  • Appeals
  • Questions? Call or Email ODS
Definitions

Definitions

IMMP: Individual Medical Meal Plan created with student, dietician and dining services manager to develop and adjust an individualized meal plan according to student’s dietary needs.

RDN: Registered Dietitian and Nutritionist

ODS: Office of Disability Services

DC: Dining Commons

Sodexo: The food services company contracted to provide dining services at Westmont College.

Disability: The ADA defines a person with a disability as a person who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activity.

AllerTrainU Certified: ANSI-accredited training completed by Sodexo management to manage food allergies and gluten in a college or campus setting and to assist students who suffer from food allergies or celiac disease in transitioning to life on campus.

  • Definitions

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