Georgia Family Challenges School’s Discipline of Autistic First-Grader Suspended Over Sandwich Shape

The parents of a six-year-old Georgia first-grader with autism are publicly criticizing their son’s school for suspending him after he bit his sandwich into the shape of a gun during lunch. John Medina, a student at Sarah Harp Elementary School in Fayette County south of Atlanta, was disciplined under what his family describes as overly strict policies that fail to account for his developmental needs. His parents argue the incident exemplifies a broader pattern of harsh consequences applied to behavior that should be addressed through education rather than punishment.

John was diagnosed with level 1 autism at age 4 and later diagnosed with ADHD, conditions that his parents say make it difficult for him to understand social norms and monitor his own behavior. Despite being academically exceptional, the child has faced approximately 15 suspensions and more than two dozen disciplinary actions since 2023, according to his parents Kristin and Juan “Ricky” Medina. While some incidents involved physical altercations, many involved harmless actions such as drawing hunting scenes, making hand gestures, or simply mentioning weapons-related topics.

The cumulative effect of repeated discipline has damaged John’s self-perception and school engagement, his parents said. The child now describes himself as a “bad kid” and expresses reluctance to attend school, fearing ridicule from peers. John’s parents said they want the school to shift toward teaching moments rather than suspensions, particularly given that traditional punishments are ineffective for children with autism and may inadvertently reward the problematic behavior.

The family initially struggled to obtain basic accommodations for John’s autism, with the school initially declining to grant him an Individualized Education Program because officials believed he was too academically advanced. It took approximately 18 months, roughly a dozen suspensions, and a separate ADHD evaluation before the district approved the IEP. After the family hired special education advocate Donna Reynolds, the school’s disciplinary approach appeared to moderate, and John’s academic performance improved significantly by the end of the school year.

Fayette County Public Schools declined to discuss specific details of John’s case but stated that his complete disciplinary history should be reviewed in full context. The district did not directly address the family’s allegations regarding overly strict policies or delays in providing developmental accommodations.