FORT MILL, S.C. — Beckye Barnes knew her son was different when he was in the first grade.
"He wrote like he was, backward and all the letters were jumbled up," Barnes said.
He was later diagnosed with level 1 autism and ADHD.
He's now 14 years old and home-schooled because Barnes said the Fort Mill School District failed to give her son the services he needed, even though under federal law she said her son is entitled to programs like special ed.
"If you have a child who can't function in the classroom socially, you have to provide services for that kid," Barnes said.
Eyewitness News obtained court paperwork ordering Fort Mill Schools to reimburse Barnes nearly $30,000 for services that the district should have provided.
The order says the Fort Mill School District argued that it did not provide services because her son earned As and Bs, was gifted and did well on tests.
But the order also says that the district did not address her son's emotional difficulties, anxiety and loss of class time.
The Fort Mill School District is pushing back this week and has filed an appeal claiming that the ruling officer made several errors.
Barnes said her case isn't the only one.
She said other parents heard about her situation and contacted her with similar stories of struggles, trying to get the Fort Mill School District to provide services.
Channel 9 requested records two weeks ago from the district for its legal costs in fighting Barnes' case and others like it.
The request has been forwarded to the superintendent. No response has been given.
A spokeswoman said she couldn't comment on pending cases.
"The goal would be for the administrators and the board to sit down with parents like me and find out how to move forward instead of wasting time and money fighting lawsuits," Barnes said.