Let’s be real: being a special needs kid is rough as it is. The last thing you need is someone treating you like dirt just because you’re different. But kids can be cruel, and sometimes useless teachers turn a blind eye to bullying.
One mom turned to an online community to vent after her autistic kid’s school tried to exclude him from the end-of-year field trip for the most arbitrary of reasons. Not about to take no for an answer, she charged into the principal’s office and turned up to heat.
More info: Reddit
Nobody likes being left out but, for many differently abled people, it’s something they go through a lot
Young autistic kid wearing a cap and backpack, standing alone on a wooden dock near water, looking thoughtful.
One 5th grader, on the high-functioning end of the autism spectrum, had his heart set on going on his school’s end-of-year field trip
Text about an autistic kid excluded from a class trip and his mom confronting the school principal over it.
Text describing a worried autistic kid excluded from school field trip, causing his mom to confront the principal.
Text excerpt about boys sleeping in a cabin during a school trip with room and bunkbed rules.
Text about an autistic kid excluded from a class trip due to sensory and social challenges, and his mom confronting the principal.
Group of diverse kids outside a wooden building, one child appearing isolated, reflecting autistic kid excluded from class trip.
After going to all the necessary meetings, he joined a group of three other boys, two of which he knew, and everything looked good to go
Alt text: Autistic kid excluded from class trip and humiliated at school, with mom confronting the school principal.
Text describing an autistic kid excluded from groups and humiliated at school, highlighting the social rejection he faced.
Alt text: autistic kid excluded from class trip due to rooming issues despite available space and mom confronting principal
Text expressing a mother’s disappointment as her autistic kid is excluded and humiliated at school during a class trip.
Sad autistic kid sitting alone in school hallway with backpack and books, feeling excluded and humiliated.
Then the ringleader of the group told him he couldn’t be in the group anymore because one of his friends was joining and there were only 4 kids allowed per room
Text describing an autistic kid facing humiliation and exclusion at school, highlighting a mom’s anger at the principal.
Text describing a mom upset as her autistic kid is excluded from a school trip despite planning ahead and payment made.
Text showing a parent questioning whether to accept a refund after their autistic kid was excluded from a class trip.
Sad autistic kid sitting on couch looking away while worried mom watches him upset in modern living room.
Naturally gutted, he asked the coordinators if he could join another group, but the 6 kids from the two remaining groups with open spots called him weird and refused
Text excerpt discussing an autistic kid excluded from a school trip and the mother’s reaction at the principal’s office.
Text showing a personal message about nervousness and sharing a story related to an autistic kid humiliated at school.
Woman frustrated at laptop, representing a mom upset about her autistic kid being excluded from a school class trip.
When his mom found out about what had happened, she turned to an online community for advice, and netizens weren’t shy to share their opinions
Alt text: Update about autistic kid excluded from class trip and mom confronting principal at school about the situation
Text excerpt about autistic kid excluded from class trip due to bullying fears and lack of supervision during night cabins.
Alt text: Parent upset as autistic kid excluded from class trip and humiliated by school principal over group assignment.
Text about an autistic kid humiliated at school and excluded from class trip, causing his mom to confront the principal.
Concerned mother speaking with principal about autistic kid humiliated at school and excluded from class trip.
So, she marched straight into the school principal’s office and demanded answers, determined to get justice for her special needs kid
Text excerpt about a principal addressing social exclusion of an autistic kid from a class group causing emotional distress.
Text excerpt discussing a preteen’s understandable behavior and mentioning an autistic kid excluded from a class trip.
Text excerpt describing a principal addressing a room-sharing issue involving an autistic kid excluded from a class trip.
Text discussing a mom’s concern about her autistic kid being excluded and separated from other boys on a class trip.
Man in glasses talking on phone in office, representing school principal handling autistic kid exclusion issue.
After the kids were rounded up, two of them said they wanted to share their room with the boy, but confessed to feeling cornered by the ringleader of the group
Alt text: Text discussing concerns about an autistic kid feeling uncomfortable during a supervised school group activity.
Comment from a mom about parenting an autistic kid, feeling regret and frustration over school exclusion and lack of support.
Statement about preventing autistic kid humiliation and exclusion at school, with mom confronting the principal.
Alt text: upset mom speaking out after autistic kid humiliated at school and excluded from class trip event
In the end, the kid got his spot back and the ringleader had to choose another group, but the mom is determined to make changes that avoid things like this happening again
The original poster (OP) was glad when her fifth grader on the high functioning end of the autism spectrum finally found his place in a gifted program. He had three quirky friends and birthday parties other kids actually attended after years of no-shows. So, when a legendary fifth grade adventure trip came up, he was desperate to go.
The trip required groups of four boys per cabin, no exceptions. His friends couldn’t go, thanks to sensory issues, OCD, and anxious parents . Still, he bravely joined a group connected to his older brother. Maybe a pity invite, sure, but kindness mattered more than pride right now.
Then came the meeting bombshell. Three boys dropped him when another friend showed up late. He searched for a new group, told coordinators, and faced six boys who openly refused him, calling him weird. Despite empty beds, rules mattered more than empathy, and he was uninvited from the trip.
When OP found out about the whole mess, a tense meeting with the principal followed, where one boy admitted guilt, another showed kindness, and the original group was restored (minus the ringleader) once honesty cracked peer pressure wide open.
OP mom still isn’t done, though. She wants change, so no child is ever humiliated publicly again. Sometimes being a so-called snowplow parent just means clearing cruelty out of the way so happier memories finally have room to grow.
Scout leader showing a map to kids wearing uniforms and backpacks during an outdoor activity in a forest setting.
You’d think that a gifted and talented program would be extra-sensitive to the needs of a kid with special needs. No wonder OP hit the roof. Those kids called her son “weird”, but just what is autism and why is it misunderstood?
The pros at VeryWellMind say autism is a neurological difference that shapes how someone engages with everyday life. Some autistic people love routines, notice tiny details others miss, or feel overwhelmed by sudden changes. Autism exists on a spectrum, so no two experiences are the same. Basically, there’s no single vibe that defines it.
Despite popular myths , autism doesn’t mean a lack of intelligence or feelings. Many autistic people feel emotions deeply; they just express them in different ways. The real struggle often comes from confusing social rules and unspoken expectations. With patience, flexibility, and kindness, autistic kids can feel genuinely included. Too bad the school went in the opposite direction, right?
Experts at Psychology Today say parents of autistic children believe that increasing teacher education about autism would lead to greater acceptance of their unique learning styles, as opposed to judging them according to mainstream standards or writing off their behaviors as poor discipline or a lack of effort. That’s only fair, really.
Well, so far, it’s 1 – 0 to OP, and you don’t want to mess with a mom on the warpath. What’s your take? Should she have taken her son’s exclusion lying down, or does the school need a reality check?
Screenshot of a social media comment discussing a school trip controversy involving an autistic kid and parental concerns.
Text post discussing experiences with school trips and rooming requests, highlighting challenges faced by autistic kids.
Reddit comment expressing frustration about school letting kids pick rooms, linked to autistic kid humiliated at school and excluded trip.
Screenshot of a Reddit comment expressing sympathy for an autistic kid humiliated and excluded from a school trip.
Comment discussing changes in school group assignments compared to past experiences with no student input in group selection.
Comment discussing confusion about why an autistic kid was excluded from a class trip instead of joining another cabin.
Comment expressing concern about lack of supervision and bullying during a school trip involving an autistic kid excluded from activities.
Thanks! Check out the results:
Anyone can write on Bored Panda. Start writing!
Follow Bored Panda on Google News!
Unlock an Enhanced Experience with Bored Panda Premium
Go ad-free, access unlimited content, and enjoy our sleek dark mode. Your favorite stories, uninterrupted.
No fees, cancel anytime
Olympian Makes Stunning Admission After Judge’s Conspicuous Scores Ignite Cheating Accusations
