In a shocking incident at Dogwood Elementary School in Reston, a seven-year-old non-verbal child with autism wandered off the school campus during early dismissal and was found playing in a puddle in the rain, soaking wet. The boy’s parents, Chad and Chelsea, who live just five minutes away from the school, were outraged that no one at the school knew their son was missing until Chelsea saw him from their apartment window. The family called the incident careless and expressed concern over the lack of organization, especially considering their son’s specific needs.
Orion was reportedly left unattended in a cafeteria with over 100 other students, became overwhelmed, and left the school premises on his own. His parents were distressed, noting that anything could have happened to their vulnerable child during the time he was missing. Despite contacting the school administration, Fairfax County Public Schools, and the special education department for answers, they received minimal responses filled with apologies and “damage control.”
The school district stated that it is refining its policies and procedures, but did not provide details on the changes being made. The family is demanding better protocols to ensure the safety and well-being of all students, especially those with special needs. As a result of this frightening incident, the community is calling for increased vigilance and support for children with disabilities to prevent similar situations from occurring in the future.
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