NC mother furious after photo of autistic son in bathroom posted to social media

WAKE COUNTY, N.C. — A Wake County mother is outraged after she said a student took a photo of her autistic son inside a school bathroom and then shared it on social media.

Melanie Howard said her son Benjamin is not aware of the photo showing him and another special needs classmate at Rolesville High School, but she and her other son are disgusted that someone would post it on social media.

Howard said she's even more frustrated with those who might have seen it and said nothing.

“Step up and have a voice,” she said. “He doesn't have a voice. Help him, that's your peer. Despite that he has a disability, that's your peer. He's in school with you.”

District officials said the behavior is a "severe violation" of their student code of conduct and warrants suspension, and that they would work with police to pursue criminal charges.

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