Students with disabilities made to clean school cafeteria, parents say

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 20 Oct, 06:32 · Archive

Parents of a student with autism at a South Carolina high school say he and other disabled students were required to clean the cafeteria.

The parents of Will Sams, a high school student with autism at Lakewood High School in Sumter, South Carolina, say he and other students with disabilities were required to clean the cafeteria. Will told his parents he had to clean cafeteria tables and floors after other students finished eating, and that the school provided gloves and a bucket for the task.

When his father Jeremiah Sams spoke to school leaders, he was told the students were cleaning as part of a 'work study program'. However, Jeremiah Sams says he realised only disabled students were involved in the activity and views this as discriminatory. 'If you are singling out a group — an individual group — to do a task, that's discrimination. It's black and white,' he said.

The Sumter School District defended the practice in a statement, saying: 'Through employability classes and individualized life skills instruction, students develop practical skills that promote independence, build confidence, and support their transition into adulthood.' Jeremiah Sams has stated his son was not enrolled in an employability class.

How it is being reported

• Parents say their son, other students with disabilities forced to clean high school cafeteriaThe parents of a high school student who has autism say he and other students with disabilities were required to clean the school cafeteria.Kfyrtv · 20 Oct, 05:48
• Parents say their son, other students with disabilities forced to clean high school cafeteriaThe parents of a high school student who has autism say he and other students with disabilities were required to clean the school cafeteria.Valleynewslive · 20 Oct, 05:48

In this story: Will Sams · Jeremiah Sams · Felicia Sams · Lakewood High School · Sumter School District · Sumter · South Carolina

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