A mother in Wisconsin is seeking answers after her son was served dog food for lunch at school. Debra Hawkes’ son, Jaden, is a freshman at Madison East High School and has autism.
A few weeks ago, a staff member sent Hawkes a photo showing a can of dog food that Jaden had been given. Some of the food had been eaten. “He looked like he ate at least a few bites,” she said. School staff later confirmed that Jaden was indeed given dog food.
Hawkes struggles to understand how this could have been a mistake. “If you can’t be safe in school, where can you be?” she questioned. Adding to her worry, she mentioned potential dangers of the can itself. “You give an autistic child a can? He could hurt himself.”
Typically energetic and cheerful, Jaden’s demeanor has changed since the incident. “He hasn’t been himself,” Hawkes noted. She visited the school nearly every day for a week looking for clarity. Eventually, staff informed her that the employee responsible was fired, though their name hasn’t been disclosed.
The school district is still reviewing the situation. Hawkes expressed her heartbreak, saying, “I feel like I don’t have control over what happens to my own kid.”
This incident raises concerns about safety in schools, especially for students with special needs. According to data from the National Center for Learning Disabilities, about 1 in 5 students has learning and attention issues, highlighting the importance of protective measures.
In recent discussions on social media, parents have shared stories of their own experiences with school safety, stressing the need for more training for staff on how to care for children with disabilities.
As schools reassess their protocols, this incident shines a light on the challenges families face in ensuring the safety and well-being of their children. For more information on supporting children with autism, check resources from the Autism Society.
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