The parents of a first-grader from Georgia with autism have raised concerns after their son was suspended for shaping his sandwich into a gun and pointing it at a classmate during lunch. They argue that the school’s rigid disciplinary policies do not consider his developmental challenges.
John Medina, 6, faced suspension last March while attending Sarah Harp Elementary School in Fayette County, just south of Atlanta.
Diagnosed with level 1 autism at age 4 and later with ADHD, John’s parents explain that these conditions can hinder his understanding of social conventions.
In a discussion with Fox News Digital, Kristin and Juan “Ricky” Medina shared that John excels academically, but the school’s stringent policies and initial lack of support for his development have resulted in about 15 suspensions and over two dozen disciplinary measures since 2023.
They noted that while some cases justified a response, other innocuous actions, like drawing hunting scenes or making hand-gun gestures, have also been met with school discipline and criticism.
This disciplinary record has negatively impacted John’s self-esteem, as he already finds it challenging to form friendships and often feels isolated, according to his parents.
His parents mentioned that John often calls himself a “bad kid” due to how he perceives treatment from his peers and the school setting.
Kristin expressed her surprise upon learning about John’s suspension over the sandwich incident. She questioned the school’s “strike” system, which can escalate minor actions like hand gestures or mentioning the word “gun” to suspension.
“It was upsetting for me to hear that it was, that is what he was getting in trouble for,” Kristin said.
“I felt like they were cracking down more on small stuff, you know, stuff that maybe he didn’t need to be suspended for,” Ricky added.
John has been involved in physical confrontations, such as pushing another student in PE and hitting a classmate with a branch. However, his parents believe many disciplinary actions are due to what they see as harmless hand gestures.
Other behaviors, like drawing a pilgrim shooting a turkey for Thanksgiving, have also faced intense scrutiny from the school, they explained.
The parents clarified that they do not discuss weapon-related topics at home, but they cannot control what John encounters outside. They added that while children often develop a fascination with weapons, John’s autism makes it more challenging for him to filter his words.
They emphasized that traditional punishments are ineffective due to his autism and could inadvertently teach him that mentioning the word “gun” might allow him to leave school on a bad day.
“Instead of singling him out, just make it a teachable moment for him. Teach, ‘Hey, we don’t do this in school because of this reason, it’s not appropriate,’” Kristin said.
However, the family initially faced resistance from the school regarding developmental support.
Kristin explained that the school initially refused to provide John with an Individualized Education Program (IEP) because he was academically advanced and officials didn’t recognize his autism.
According to Kristin, it took about 18 months, 10 to 12 suspensions, and a second evaluation resulting in an ADHD diagnosis before his IEP was approved.
John’s parents are concerned that focusing too much on what they see as harmless childhood behavior has damaged his self-image and increased his reluctance to attend school.
John is hesitant to attend school because he believes people are “going to laugh at him for making wrong choices,” his parents said.
“I just want to see John start to get his self-esteem built up, his confidence built up, friendships built up,” Kristin said. “I don’t want him to continue to feel singled out.”
The parents shared that John ended the last school year on a positive note, reading at a third-grade level and coming close to qualifying for the gifted and talented program.
The school has recently eased up on suspensions, especially after the family enlisted the help of Donna Reynolds, a special education advocate, to assist them during school meetings.
John now follows a behavioral plan that includes having an aide during unstructured times like lunch, recess, and PE. He also benefits from a smaller, more tranquil classroom setting, where his parents say he excels.
“What I want to see is that there’s less severe punishment like suspensions,” Ricky said. “And just continue to talk through things so you can have opportunities to learn from things and maybe focus on real serious concerns.”
Fox News Digital contacted Fayette County Public Schools, the district overseeing John’s school, regarding his situation.
The district did not provide specific details but encouraged reviewing John’s complete disciplinary record and the broader context instead of concentrating on a single event.
