Georgia parents protest school suspension of autistic boy over sandwich gun

John Medina, a six-year-old first-grader in Fayette County, Georgia, was suspended after he cut his sandwich into the shape of a gun and pointed it at a peer during lunch. Diagnosed with level-1 autism at age four and later with ADHD, his parents say his condition makes it hard for him to grasp social norms, yet the school’s “strike” system treats minor gestures like hand signs or the word “gun” as suspensible offenses.

Since 2023, John has faced roughly 15 suspensions and over two dozen disciplinary actions, including incidents the family deems innocuous, such as drawing a pilgrim shooting a turkey. The district initially denied an Individualized Education Program, citing his academic performance, but after a second evaluation and legal advocacy by Donna Reynolds, an IEP was approved and a behavioral plan with an aide was implemented.

The parents warn that repeated punitive measures damage John’s self-esteem and discourage school attendance. Fayette County Public Schools declined to provide specifics, urging a comprehensive review of his disciplinary history rather than focusing on a single event.