Madison mother demands answers after 15-year-old son with autism was fed dog food at school
CBS 58 MADISON, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Emotional demands for an explanation after a Madison mother says her 15-year-old son with autism was fed dog food at school.
Several community leaders and advocates are now calling for answers, describing the situation at Madison East High School as shocking and unacceptable.
“Things are being covered up that shouldn’t be. I should have got some answers by now,” Debra Hawkes said.
Hawkes says earlier this month, a staff member at Madison East High School gave her 15-year-old son with autism, Jaden, a can of dog food. Jaden is autistic and non-verbal.
She says she didn’t learn about the incident until days later, after staff sent her a photo showing her son had eaten part of it.
“I didn’t hear about it until the following week, so they covered it up for the whole weekend,” Hawkes said. “I was trying to figure out why my son was acting differently, aggressive, and not wanting to eat.”
Hawkes says she went to the school multiple times, trying to get answers.
“I went to Madison East High School on my own a few times,” she said. “They finally got me in to meet with the principal and teacher for an hour interview. No answers at all, just questions for me.”
Community advocates say the situation raises serious concerns — including how dog food ended up inside the school in the first place.
“This baby had no reason to have had a can of dog food to walk in the school building in the first place,” said Andrea Shorter Amos, CEO of Creating a Village. “There are no dogs in the school building, so why was that there?”
State Representative Shelia Stubbs is now calling for action.
“I demand a response from the Department of Public Instruction and ask them to conduct an immediate and thorough investigation into this incident,” Stubbs said.
For Hawkes, the emotional toll continues.
“But I’m still grieving and it will never stop, because you would think the people that have your child every day almost would take care of them, and you would want to put your trust in them,” she said.
She says sympathy alone isn’t enough.
“We don’t need sorrow, we don’t need the press, we need help, we need answers,” Hawkes said.
The Madison Metropolitan School District sent CBS 58 a statement, saying in part:
"We are committed to providing students with a safe learning environment. Staff procedures and protocols are being reviewed, and additional training regarding snack protocol will be provided to staff to help ensure this does not happen again."
The district says the staff member involved has been placed on leave.
