The dad and mom of a Georgia first-grader with autism are talking out after their son was suspended for biting his sandwich into the form of a gun and pointing it at a classmate throughout lunch, arguing that the college’s strict disciplinary insurance policies fail to account for his developmental disabilities.
John Medina, 6, was suspended final March whereas in first grade at Sarah Harp Elementary Faculty in Fayette County, south of Atlanta.
He was identified with degree 1 autism at age 4 and later identified with ADHD, situations his dad and mom say could make it troublesome for him to know social norms.
In an interview with Fox Information Digital, dad and mom Kristin and Juan “Ricky” Medina mentioned that John is exceptionally superior academically, however the college’s obvious strict insurance policies and preliminary lack of developmental help have led to roughly 15 suspensions and greater than two dozen disciplinary actions since 2023.
They added that whereas some incidents justified escalation, different innocent acts, similar to looking drawings and hand-gun gestures, have additionally drawn college self-discipline and scrutiny.
The disciplinary historical past has in the end taken a toll on John’s vanity, particularly as he already struggles to make associates and infrequently feels remoted, his dad and mom mentioned.
They mentioned their son refers to himself as a “dangerous child” due to how he feels he’s handled by his friends and the college setting.
Kristin mentioned she was initially shocked to study that John had been suspended over the sandwich incident, questioning the college’s reported “strike” system, wherein minor actions similar to making a hand gesture or saying the phrase “gun” can escalate to suspension.
“It was upsetting for me to listen to that it was, that’s what he was getting in hassle for,” Kristin mentioned.
“I felt like they had been cracking down extra on small stuff, you already know, stuff that perhaps he didn’t must be suspended for,” Ricky added.
Whereas John has been concerned in bodily incidents, together with pushing one other scholar in PE and hitting a classmate with a department, his dad and mom mentioned many official disciplinary actions stemmed from what they thought of innocent hand gestures.
Different normal behaviors, like drawing a pilgrim capturing a turkey for Thanksgiving, additionally drew intense college scrutiny, they mentioned.
They added that weapon-related matters are particularly not mentioned of their residence, however mentioned they can’t management the surface influences John encounters.
They added that kids can naturally develop an imaginative fascination with weapons, however John’s autism makes it harder for him to filter his speech in the best way different kids would possibly.
Additionally they confused that, due to his autism, conventional punishments are ineffective and will inadvertently reinforce the concept that saying the phrase “gun” will permit him to go away college when he’s having a foul day.
“As a substitute of singling him out, simply make it a teachable second for him. Educate, ‘Hey, we don’t do that in class due to this purpose, it’s not acceptable,’” Kristin mentioned.
Nevertheless, the household mentioned they initially confronted pushback from the college over developmental lodging.
Kristin mentioned the college initially refused to grant John an Individualized Training Program (IEP), as a result of he was too academically superior and officers “didn’t see” his autism.
Based on Kristin, it took a few 12 months and a half, 10 to 12 suspensions and a second analysis that resulted in an ADHD analysis earlier than the college accredited his IEP.
John’s dad and mom mentioned they fear that repeatedly specializing in what they contemplate innocent childhood habits has bolstered a detrimental self-image and made him more and more keen to go away college.
John is hesitant to attend college as a result of he believes persons are “going to snort at him for making incorrect selections,” his dad and mom mentioned.
“I simply wish to see John begin to get his vanity constructed up, his confidence constructed up, friendships constructed up,” Kristin mentioned. “I don’t need him to proceed to really feel singled out.”
The dad and mom mentioned John fortunately completed the earlier college 12 months robust, studying at a third-grade degree and coming simply 4 take a look at factors in need of qualifying for the gifted and gifted program.
The college additionally appeared to ease up on suspensions not too long ago, significantly after the household employed Donna Reynolds, a particular training advocate, to symbolize them throughout college conferences.
John can also be at present on a behavioral plan that features an aide throughout unstructured durations, together with lunch, recess and PE. He additionally spends time in a smaller, calmer classroom setting, the place his dad and mom mentioned he performs exceptionally properly.
“What I wish to see is that there’s much less extreme punishment like suspensions,” Ricky mentioned. “And simply proceed to speak by way of issues so you possibly can have alternatives to study from issues and perhaps deal with actual severe considerations.”
Fox Information Digital reached out to Fayette County Public Faculties, the college district beneath which John’s college falls, about his state of affairs.
The district declined to enter particular particulars, however inspired a assessment of John’s “full disciplinary historical past and the complete context surrounding the state of affairs somewhat than specializing in one remoted occasion.”
