\u201cI was sick for years until I was diagnosed,” she recalled. “Back then there were barely any restaurants that had gluten-free food.”<\/p>\n
SHAKER HEIGHTS, Ohio \u2014 A Laurel School student<\/a> is transforming her own health challenges into a mission to help others\u2014by making sure people with celiac disease have access to safe, gluten-free food<\/a>.<\/p>\n Claire Leland, a high school student living with celiac disease, knows firsthand how difficult it can be to find affordable food that won\u2019t make her sick. Diagnosed in 2012, Claire has spent nearly years navigating a world where common staples like bread, pasta and many processed foods can be dangerous.<\/p>\n “As someone who has had celiac disease for nearly 13 years, I know how daunting the price of meat and food can be,” Claire said. “So I created CSC.”<\/p>\n CSC\u2014short for Celiac Support Collective\u2014is a nonprofit Claire launched as part of her school\u2019s Capstone Scholars program.<\/p>\n \u201cI knew going into it right away that I wanted my topic to be about celiac,\u201d she said. \u201cThis year I decided I wanted to donate to food banks, to food pantries. I spent a lot of time expanding my network and getting to know the greater community.\u201d<\/p>\n Outside of her academic work, Claire spends her time visiting food banks to understand the needs of those with dietary restrictions.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen I\u2019ve toured, I\u2019ve been told they have customers that come in and there\u2019s no food for them,\u201d Claire explained. \u201cIt\u2019s very, very important that they have the supply and the foods that will help them live a happy life.\u201d<\/p>\n That sense of being forgotten is something that sticks with Claire.<\/p>\n \u201cI was sick for years until I was diagnosed,” she recalled. “Back then there were barely any restaurants that had gluten-free food. Even your local grocery store, there was nothing really there or there\u2019d be a shortage.\u201d<\/p>\n But the lack of access isn\u2019t the only issue. Claire says living with celiac disease or food allergies often means feeling left out.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s a perception of exclusion,” she said. \u201cFood is a universal thing. So what happens when you go to your friend\u2019s house and they don\u2019t have any food for you?\u201d<\/p>\n Now, through the Celiac Support Collective, Claire is working to change that by making sure no one with celiac is overlooked or excluded simply because of what they can or cannot eat.<\/p>\n You can follow Claire\u2019s work and learn more about her upcoming donation drives on Instagram at @celiacsupportcollective<\/a>.<\/p>\n