Mother Plans Lawsuit After 8‑Year‑Old Non‑Verbal Autistic Son Was Allegedly Confined in School 'Timeout' Box

Rhonda Garrow says she will file suit against the Salmon River Central School District after learning her 8‑year‑old, non‑verbal son with autism was allegedly placed in a classroom "timeout" box at his elementary school.

According to a Jan. 6 press release from the law firm Tully Rinckey PLLC., Garrow is preparing litigation after photos and reports surfaced showing the enclosure. Local station WRGB reported that Garrow first saw images on Facebook on Jan. 15 and later learned the box had been used for her son.

Garrow alleges the child was confined to the enclosure after outbursts and was even made to eat meals there. She claims staff described the structure as part of his behavioral intervention plan, but that she never consented to or was informed about the box.

“I feel betrayed,” Garrow told The New York Post. “They used his disability against him because he can’t defend himself. The only thing he can do is yell or cry or try to run away. I feel that’s why they got this box so they can stuff him in there and just close the door.”

The boy’s father, identified by media as Jacob Sunday, and other parents visited the school the same day to speak with administrators. School officials have said the enclosures have since been removed and disassembled.

The incident has broader community significance: the law firm noted that roughly 60% of the district’s students are Native American and that one of the schools where such boxes were allegedly used sits on the St. Regis Mohawk Tribal Reservation. Trooper Brandi M. Ashley of State Police Troop B told Tully Rinckey the matter is being addressed by Tribal Police and the tribal community.

An attorney cited by the family’s lawyers described the allegations as violations of the child’s rights and said the firm intends to expose what it calls unlawful actions by district staff. The family’s attorneys said a district director of special education, a principal and a teacher have been placed on leave pending investigation, and that an interim superintendent has been appointed.

Media outlets including PEOPLE reported they had not yet received comment from Tully Rinckey or the Salmon River Central School District at the time of reporting. Investigations by tribal authorities and district officials are ongoing, and the law firm says it is moving forward with legal remedies on behalf of the family.

What This Means: The case raises questions about restraint and seclusion practices, parental consent for behavioral interventions, protections for students with disabilities, and the responsibilities of schools serving Indigenous communities. Any formal complaint or lawsuit could lead to policy changes, disciplinary actions and broader scrutiny of similar practices in other districts.