{"id":21197,"date":"2017-06-29T09:00:11","date_gmt":"2017-06-29T13:00:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.wrightslaw.com\/blog\/?p=21197"},"modified":"2017-06-16T11:59:57","modified_gmt":"2017-06-16T15:59:57","slug":"is-fragrance-sensitivity-a-disability-under-ada","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wrightslaw.com\/blog\/is-fragrance-sensitivity-a-disability-under-ada\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Fragrance Sensitivity a Disability under ADA?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"padding-bottom:20px; padding-top:10px;\" class=\"hupso-share-buttons\"><!-- Hupso Share Buttons - https:\/\/www.hupso.com\/share\/ --><a class=\"hupso_pop\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hupso.com\/share\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.hupso.com\/share\/buttons\/gallery\/share-button-gray.png\" style=\"border:0px\" alt=\"Share\" \/><\/a><script type=\"text\/javascript\">var hupso_services=new Array(\"Twitter\",\"Facebook\",\"Google Plus\",\"Pinterest\",\"Linkedin\",\"StumbleUpon\",\"Digg\",\"Reddit\",\"Bebo\",\"Delicious\");var hupso_icon_type = \"labels\";var hupso_background=\"#FFFFFF\";var hupso_border=\"#FFFFFF\";var hupso_image_folder_url = \"\";var hupso_twitter_via=\"wrightslaw\";var hupso_url=\"\";var hupso_title=\"Is%20Fragrance%20Sensitivity%20a%20Disability%20under%20ADA%3F\";<\/script><script type=\"text\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/static.hupso.com\/share\/js\/share.js\"><\/script><!-- Hupso Share Buttons --><\/div><blockquote><p>Sprays and perfume in the classroom is an asthmatic trigger for my son!\u00a0 Spraying Lysol is another concern.<\/p>\n<p>The school says they can not include this in his 504 plan because asking the teacher not to use perfume &#8220;breaks the teacher&#8217;s amendment.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Where can I get the correct information to protect my child from having an asthma attack in class?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-21937\" style=\"border: 1px solid #000000;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wrightslaw.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/boy.inhaler.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"498\" height=\"334\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333399;\"><strong>Disability under ADA \/ Section 504<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Your son has a 504 plan. It sounds like he has a &#8220;fragrance sensitivity\u201d or respiratory impairment. This is a disability under ADA\/504.<\/p>\n<p>It also sounds like the school\u2019s position is that they can\u2019t ask the teacher to stop using perfume in school, even though it may trigger as asthma attack. \u00a0Same with spraying Lysol while your son is in the classroom.<\/p>\n<p>I did a quick Google search &#8211; there is a lot of information available if you are persistent in looking.<\/p>\n<p><strong>(1.)\u00a0 Contact this organization<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.foodallergy.org\/\"><span style=\"color: #0066cc;\">Food Allergy Research and Education<\/span><\/a> at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foodallergy.org\/\"><span style=\"color: #0066cc;\">https:\/\/www.foodallergy.org\/<\/span><\/a><br \/>\nIf they can\u2019t help you, I\u2019m sure they know who can.<\/p>\n<p><strong>(2.) Read these articles<\/strong> to help you gain a clearer understanding of the issues and how to present solutions. Although some of these links are about adults \/ employees in the workplace, the same principles apply to a child who must attend school.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.laborlawcenter.com\/education-center\/new-ada-guidelines-for-fragrance-sensitivity\/\"><span style=\"color: #0066cc;\"><em>Fragrance Sensitivity is a Disability under ADA<\/em><\/span><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.laborlawcenter.com\/education-center\/new-ada-guidelines-for-fragrance-sensitivity\/\"><span style=\"color: #0066cc;\">https:\/\/www.laborlawcenter.com\/education-center\/new-ada-guidelines-for-fragrance-sensitivity\/<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8220;A recent court ruling means that some employers will have to ban perfume, cologne and other scents in the workplace.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;In <em>McBride v. City of Detroit<\/em>, senior city planner Susan McBride was awarded $100,000. In addition, the City of Detroit (the employer) agreed to revise its ADA handbook and training, and to post notices about the fragrance-free policy.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.laborlawcenter.com\/education-center\/new-ada-guidelines-for-fragrance-sensitivity\/\"><em><span style=\"color: #0066cc;\">New ADA Guidelines for Fragrance Sensitivity<\/span><\/em><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.laborlawcenter.com\/education-center\/new-ada-guidelines-for-fragrance-sensitivity\/\"><span style=\"color: #0066cc;\">https:\/\/www.laborlawcenter.com\/education-center\/new-ada-guidelines-for-fragrance-sensitivity\/<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Employers need to be aware that allergies to fragrance or multiple chemical sensitivities can be disabilities under ADA, the Americans with Disabilities Act.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;This was amply illustrated in a recent post on <em>McBride v. the City of Detroit<\/em> that ruled senior city manager Susan McBride\u2019s chemical sensitivity was a disability under ADA because it interfered with the major life activity of breathing.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;According to the Job Accommodation Network or <a href=\"http:\/\/askjan.org\/\"><span style=\"color: #0066cc;\">JAN<\/span><\/a>, [<a href=\"http:\/\/askjan.org\/\"><span style=\"color: #0066cc;\">http:\/\/askjan.org\/<\/span> <\/a>] there are a number of ways that employers can accommodate workers with fragrance allergies or chemical sensitivities. JAN is a great resource for any employer dealing with an accommodation issue under ADA.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/askjan.org\/media\/respiratory.html\"><em><span style=\"color: #0066cc;\">Accommodations: Employees with a Respiratory Impairment<\/span><\/em><\/a> &#8211; describes respiratory impairments and common accommodations the school or workplace should make. <a href=\"http:\/\/askjan.org\/media\/respiratory.html\"><span style=\"color: #0066cc;\">http:\/\/askjan.org\/media\/respiratory.html<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Publications is from the U.S. Department of Education<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">(1.)<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www2.ed.gov\/about\/offices\/list\/ocr\/docs\/hq5269.html\"> <em><span style=\"color: #0066cc;\">Protecting Students with Disabilities: Frequently Asked Questions About Section 504 and Education of Students with Disabilities<\/span><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www2.ed.gov\/about\/offices\/list\/ocr\/docs\/hq5269.html\"><span style=\"color: #0066cc;\">https:\/\/www2.ed.gov\/about\/offices\/list\/ocr\/docs\/hq5269.html<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #0066cc;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">(2.)<\/span><\/span> <em><span style=\"color: #0066cc;\">The Civil Rights of Students with Hidden Disabilities under Section 504 of the Rehab Act<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www2.ed.gov\/about\/offices\/list\/ocr\/504faq.html\"><span style=\"color: #0066cc;\">https:\/\/www2.ed.gov\/about\/offices\/list\/ocr\/504faq.html<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p>(3.) <a href=\"https:\/\/www2.ed.gov\/about\/offices\/list\/ocr\/docs\/504-resource-guide-201612.pdf\"><em><span style=\"color: #0066cc;\">Parent and Educator\u2019s Guide to Section 504 in Public Elementary and Secondary Schools<\/span><\/em><\/a>. This was published in December 2016 and is excellent and readable.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www2.ed.gov\/about\/offices\/list\/ocr\/docs\/504-resource-guide-201612.pdf\"><span style=\"color: #0066cc;\">https:\/\/www2.ed.gov\/about\/offices\/list\/ocr\/docs\/504-resource-guide-201612.pdf<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p>These should get you started in becoming an expert about how Section 504 protects kids like your son.<\/p>\n<p>You&#8217;ll find more information and resources on the Wrightslaw page at &#8211;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wrightslaw.com\/info\/allergy.index.htm\"><span style=\"color: #0066cc;\">Episodic Conditions such as Allergies, Asthma, Epilepsy<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wrightslaw.com\/info\/allergy.index.htm\"><span style=\"color: #0066cc;\">https:\/\/www.wrightslaw.com\/info\/allergy.index.htm<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Good luck!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Sprays and perfume in the classroom is an asthmatic trigger for my son!\u00a0 Spraying Lysol is another concern. The school says they can not include this in his 504 plan <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wrightslaw.com\/blog\/is-fragrance-sensitivity-a-disability-under-ada\/\">Continue Reading \u2192<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":21937,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[73,1366,1363],"tags":[1312,1186,1460,1461,1172,1462,1297],"class_list":["post-21197","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ada","category-allergy-anaphylaxis","category-discrimination-section-504-adaa","tag-ada","tag-allergies","tag-asthma","tag-episodic-conditions","tag-fare","tag-fragrance-sensitivity","tag-section-504"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wrightslaw.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21197","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wrightslaw.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wrightslaw.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wrightslaw.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wrightslaw.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21197"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/www.wrightslaw.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21197\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":21939,"href":"https:\/\/www.wrightslaw.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21197\/revisions\/21939"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wrightslaw.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/21937"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wrightslaw.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21197"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wrightslaw.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21197"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wrightslaw.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21197"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}