Middle School Put Autistic Student's Desk In The Restroom For Quiet Learning Space

Oct 14, 2019 by apost team

Lucas was excited to begin the school year at Whatcom Middle School. However, Lucas, from Bellingham, Washington, has autism, which means that he needs special accommodations at school. This year, it also means that his autism taught him to be brave throughout an ordeal that would show just how little he is understood, even at school.

Lucas’ excitement went straight down the drain when he learned his desk was in a bathroom. Danielle Goodwin, Lucas’ mother, arrived at the school with her son to see his desk sitting over a toilet. According to the New York Post Lucas’ mother said remembering the disgusting discovery:

“I was stunned, I was so shocked. I just took the picture because I didn’t believe what I was seeing."

apost.com

Danielle had told the school her son needed a quiet place to work. So Lucas had been banished to the bathroom. But obviously the idea of putting him in the bathroom was disturbing to his mother.

Although Lucas needed a quiet space, a filthy bathroom was far from ideal. Danielle asked a teacher if there was another solution. Shockingly, the teacher simply said no.

The situation was not only humiliating for Lucas, but it also put his health at risk. In addition to the complications of living with autism, Lucas has an autoimmune disorder called PANDAS. His mother told KOMO News:

“It’s not an appropriate place for anyone, but especially for Lucas with his PANDAS condition (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections), he can’t be around germs. That’s something that can really affect his body. It smelled and just the thought of my son working his school day away in a bathroom was disturbing to me.”

Pushed too far, Danielle Goodwin needed to bring awareness to the situation. She went to Facebook and posted her story with all of the startling details and a picture of the scene. 

The school released a public statement saying that the bathroom was not an "active restroom"  and that they simply didn't have enough capacity or funding to accommodate Lucas, as reported by New York Post

Schools often have fewer resources than they need. But, can we really believe that placing a student’s desk in a bathroom was “well-intentioned?” Shouldn’t they have been more aware of the message they were sending to this autistic child and his mother?

According to KOMO News Lucas was humiliated by the incident and when he was asked about how he was feeling, he said:

“Sad, stressed, embarrassed. I was like how is this happening? How am I in the bathroom? Why?”

Well, how do you feel about this incident? What should schools do for students like Lucas? Let us know your thoughts in the comments and be sure to pass this article along.