The parents of a Georgia first-grader with autism are speaking out after their son was suspended for biting his sandwich into the shape of a gun and pointing it at a classmate during lunch, arguing that the school's strict disciplinary policies fail to account for his developmental disabilities.John Medina, 6, was suspended last March while in first grade at Sarah Harp Elementary School in Fayette County, south of Atlanta.He was diagnosed with level 1 autism at age 4 and later diagnosed with ADHD, conditions his parents say can make it difficult for him to understand social norms.In an interview with Fox News Digital, parents Kristin and Juan "Ricky" Medina said that John is exceptionally advanced academically, but the school's apparent strict policies and initial lack of developmental assistance have led to roughly 15 suspensions and more than two dozen disciplinary actions since 2023.
They added that while some incidents justified escalation, other harmless acts, such as hunting drawings and hand-gun gestures, have also drawn school discipline and scrutiny.The disciplinary history has ultimately taken a toll on John's self-esteem, especially as he already struggles to make friends and often feels isolated, his parents said.They said their son refers to himself as a "bad kid" because of how he feels he is treated by his peers and the school environment.10-YEAR-OLD BOY RECOUNTS NEAR-DROWNING AS FAMILY REVEALS FRIENDSHIP WITH CALIFORNIA TEEN LIFEGUARD HEROKristin and Ricky Medina pose outdoors with their son, John, in a park. (Courtesy of the Medina family)Kristin said she was initially shocked to learn that John had been suspended over the sandwich incident, questioning the school's reported "strike" system, in which minor actions such as making a hand gesture or saying the word "gun" can escalate 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 smal...