Arkansas Mom Says Autistic Son Left Alone in Classroom For an Hour; DHS Launches Investigation

autism DHS CDC Center for Disease Control Marion Visual and Performing Arts School Renee Johns Autistic Son Left Alone

By Joel Brussels , Parent Herald May 17, 01:30 am

Photo: (Photo : GIANRIGO MARLETTA/AFP via Getty Images)

An Arkansas mom says she was forced to call the Department of Human Services (DHS) after her autistic son was left alone for an hour in his classroom, and no one told her about it.

Renee Johns told WREG that the incident happened earlier this month after her son Jacob was dropped off at Marion Visual and Performing Arts School by his daycare. Johns said her eight-year-old child walked by himself to his classroom, but his teacher never showed up for his class.

According to Johns, Jacob was eventually discovered by his therapist, who comes to the said arts school twice a week. Johns said that the therapist found Jacob hiding in a fort he had made because her son is scared to be alone. Johns added that Jacob had already missed breakfast, and he was hungry when he was found.

Apology not enough for Johns as DHS launches investigation

Johns added that her son, who has several behavioral problems, has been known to run, and Jacob's classroom is right next to an exit door. Johns said that nobody would have noticed he was gone because they would not have realized he was in there. Johns added that Jacob was one street over from the interstate.

According to Johns, the DHS told her that school administrators were not aware Jacob's teacher was off that day, which was why he was left unsupervised. The principal sent Johns a letter of apology for what transpired, telling her that the school was taking steps to ensure that it did not happen again.

The apology is not enough for Johns, who believes someone should be held accountable for what happened to her autistic son. Johns made an interesting point, saying that if she did that as a mother, they would turn around and take Jacob away from her and file neglect and child endangerment charges against her. Johns said the investigation of the DHS is still ongoing.

According to Autism Speaks, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported in 2021 that approximately 1 in 44 children in the United States is diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), based on data from 2018.

The study showed that boys are four times more likely to be diagnosed with autism than girls. Most kids were still being diagnosed with autism after the age of 4, though autism can be reliably diagnosed as early as 2.

What causes autism?

So what causes autism? Studies indicate that genetics are involved in the vast majority of autism cases. Kids born to older parents are at a higher risk of having autism. Parents who have a child with ASD have a 2 to 18 percent chance of having a second child who is also affected by autism.

Extensive research has been done over the last two decades, asking whether there is any link between autism and childhood vaccinations. According to the CDC, vaccines are very safe and do not cause autism.