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Teacher accused of using hot sauce to discipline autistic student

CONCORD, N.C. — A mother is calling for a teacher to be fired after the way she said her son was disciplined.
 
The mother told Channel 9 a teacher used hot sauce on her son to prevent him from touching his nose in class.
 
The accused teacher used to work at Weddington Hills Elementary in Concord but is now at another school.
 
The boy's mom is angry over what happened to her son and she wants more action taken.

"She took advantage of him, and she needs to be held accountable," Cindy Joseph said.
 
She calls the incident that happened earlier this month as outrageous behavior.
 
Her 11-year-old son DJ has autism and can't speak so while Joseph said he couldn't tell her about what happened in class on Oct. 7.
 
But the principal caught the teacher putting hot sauce on DJ.
 
"She was reported of putting hot sauce on DJ's fingers because he kept digging in his nose," Joseph said.
 
She didn't believe it at first but the principal told her they found the bottle of hot sauce in the classroom.

"I don't think she should be allowed to be teaching period, with any kids, whether they have a disability or no disability and she should not be allowed to have a license," Joseph said.

School officials wouldn't talk about any specific incident but confirmed the teacher now works at Royal Oaks Elementary.
 
They also confirmed the teacher was suspended on Oct. 8 -- the day after the alleged incident.
 
Joseph is glad her son is OK but said the school district shouldn't take any more chances.

"I feel in my heart she doesn't need to teach period," Joseph said. "She needs to be held accountable for her actions."

Now, she wants to file abuse charges against the teacher.

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