NY School's 'Timeout Box' for Autistic Child Sparks Outrage

Photos of a wooden "timeout" box, described as a dog cage, used at the St. Regis Mohawk School in upstate New York have triggered an investigation. The box was reportedly used as a behavioral measure for a non-verbal autistic third-grader, with his mother, Rhonda Garrow, only discovering its use recently. This discovery prompted legal action, with Garrow filing a notice of claim against the Salmon River Central School District for alleged civil rights violations.

Both the St. Regis Mohawk Tribal Police and the New York Department of Education are investigating the use of these padded wooden boxes, referred to in the child's behavior intervention plan as a "workstation." The district's superintendent, Stanley Harper, has acknowledged the existence of three such boxes. The family's legal team alleges the box was moved with the child between schools and was used not only for behavioral issues but also for eating meals and completing schoolwork.

Following the public outcry, an interim superintendent was appointed, and the district stated it launched its own investigation into the "calming stations." The former school board member who initially shared the photos expressed concern that some staff involved remain employed. The family's legal firm intends to pursue claims including false imprisonment and disability discrimination.