Another Labor Day weekend draws to a close, signaling the beginning of a new school year. With college comes more than just a roommate and a mini-fridge: you no longer have your very own personal chef (a.k.a. Mom), so the dining situation definitely needs attention. Now, I’m sure most of you have already come to some sort of agreement with your school, but for those of you who haven’t, it’s not too late!

First things first: canvas the area around your school (say, a 15 minutes’ walk in given direction) and find celiac-compatible restaurants. I would recommend printing out and laminating a brief explanation on a wallet-sized card to concisely explain your level of sensitivity. Next on the agenda, contact your school’s disability office and make an appointment to discuss. They may or may not be able to help you, but it doesn’t hurt to ask. In addition to, or in conjunction with, the disability office - contact the head chef or dining manager for on-campus dining. While they tend to be very busy the few weeks around the start of term, try making an appointment to see what they can do. Last, but not least, sit down with your roommate and explain the situation as soon as possible, and draw up a “room agreement” sort of an informal contract, saying that you both understand the situation and will do your best to provide a safe, comfortable environment for both parties. For example, while you can’t prevent your roommate from eating pizza in the room, dedicate the bottom shelf in the fridge for their use and explain that everything that goes into the microwave has to be on a plate, and covered. Remember, this is as much about your roommate as it is about yourself: be reasonable, and keep in mind that this is probably coming as a total shock to them.

My experience has been fantastic. The disability office has coordinated meetings with housing and food services, the internet cafe/convenience store in the basement of my dormitory set up a “gluten-free zone” in the kitchen, including a dedicated toaster oven and microwave, and the local restaurants I patron have been more than accommodating. Best of luck!

- Kelsey Ganes, University of Washington student