An autistic child was bullied by two athletic peers for years, despite parents’ repeated reports and an IEP in place.
In the post shared by the National Council on Severe Autism, a five-year-old autistic child in Sumner County was charged with assault after classroom outbursts, despite having an IEP in place.
Barbara Mowder reposted a story from the National Council on Severe Autism about a five-year-old autistic child resembling the case of her own son.
The original post highlighted how the boy’s parents had prepared him with therapy and an IEP, but the school failed to provide the necessary one-on-one support.
Barbara, connecting this case to her own experience, used the platform to shed light on how schools often ignore IEPs and fail autistic children, leaving them vulnerable to bullying.
Despite Standing Up for Himself, an Autistic Child Was Suspended for Confronting Athlete Bullies!
In her post, Barbara recounted her son’s painful journey through the public school system.
Despite having both an IEP and a 504 plan, staff repeatedly ignored his needs.
For three years, he was bullied by the same two students, while the school dismissed twelve separate complaints from his parents.
She described the heartbreak of having to tell her gentle son, “who would not hurt a fly,” to defend himself physically.
Eventually, when the bullies flicked him in the head in the lunch line, her son stood up for himself, only to face a 21-day suspension.
The athletes who instigated the bullying were not punished, exposing the favoritism and broken discipline system within the school.
Barbara highlighted that these failures are not isolated but part of a larger pattern that occurs every single day in every school.
Barbara’s post drew heartfelt responses from people who shared their own points of view.
One commenter expressed compassion, saying:
I am so sorry to hear that he went thru this. He seems like an amazing young man… and that is a true testament to you and your husband! Sending you hugs.
Others voiced outrage at the school’s handling of the situation, sharing their POV by highlighting their anger, saying:
It’s an absolute shame!!!! Shame on that school and their administration.
Together, these reactions show both the deep empathy people feel for Barbara’s family and the widespread frustration with systemic failures in the school system.
