Mother Waits As College students Evacuate—Realizes Her Autistic Son Isn’t Outdoors

[ad_1] A Michigan mother of two has shared footage of the second kids started evacuating her autistic son’s college—however he was not amongst them.

Kennedy Stephenson posted a clip of what unfolded minutes after she had waved goodbye to CJ, her son, after dropping him off in school. The boy is within the first grade. He's additionally autistic, which is one thing his dad and mom had confirmed when he began college. "He had a variety of massive behaviors and he had a really arduous time socializing," Stephenson informed Newsweek. "Everybody informed us that, as soon as he went to kindergarten, he would settle into the brand new tradition and discover ways to socialize."

Stephenson mentioned she knew there was one thing "completely different" about her son, however solely had it confirmed in October when he was identified with ADHD and trauma. By then, she added, he was "struggling at school massive time." "He was aggressive at instances, refused to take part in actions, would elope and get misplaced within the college constructing and would not sit nonetheless," Stephenson mentioned. "He was suspended 10 instances in kindergarten."

Stephenson mentioned they trilled completely different medicines with CJ, a wide range of therapies and enrolled him in lessons round extracurricular actions corresponding to martial arts. As a rule, nonetheless, the boy would find yourself being requested to go away. All through every little thing that occurred over the course of his first yr in school, CJ had the love and assist of his household. However they weren't alone. CJ additionally had his kindergarten trainer preventing his nook. "His kindergarten trainer was one of many solely ones who caught by him via all of this and advocated for him so he might get further assist at school," Stephenson mentioned.

The Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 4 out of each 100 boys within the U.S. have autism. It's a situation that may have a big bearing on instructional outcomes. The Division for Schooling estimates 74 % of autistic college students graduate with a diploma, in comparison with 86 % of all college students. Eight % of autistic college students, in the meantime, don't end highschool, in contrast with 5 % of all college students. Early intervention and the efficient identification of a younger scholar’s wants can play a vital position in shaping the trail they take via college.

Fortunately, within the case of CJ, Stephenson found from early on that he had that assist in abundance. "His kindergarten trainer e-mailed us day by day," Stephenson mentioned. "She met with us to listen to his story and higher perceive him. She made her personal rewards system with him. She helped us get an Particular person Schooling Plan (IEP), which allowed for issues like various seating, fidgets, a robust conduct plan, and, lastly, a 1-on-1 aide."

<img id="10952554" alt="A school evacuation." caption="Kennedy Stephenson was worried about her son" captionoverride="Kennedy Stephenson''s son walks with his teacher outside school." src="TikTok/kennedy.stephenson" sourcealt="A fire alarm went off." sources="[]" fetchpriority="auto" loading="lazy" width="1200" height="750" decoding="async" data-nimg="1" style="color:transparent;aspect-ratio:inherit;object-fit:cover" sizes="(min-width: 1200px) 1200px, (min-width: 768px) 1024px, 100vw" srcset="https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/school-evacuation.png?w=640&quality=75&webp=1 640w, https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/school-evacuation.png?w=750&quality=75&webp=1 750w, https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/school-evacuation.png?w=1000&quality=75&webp=1 1000w, https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/school-evacuation.png?w=1200&quality=75&webp=1 1200w, https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/school-evacuation.png?w=1360&quality=75&webp=1 1360w, https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/school-evacuation.png?w=1600&quality=75&webp=1 1600w" bad-src="https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/school-evacuation.png?w=1600&quality=75&webp=1"/> That intervention, coupled with discovering the correct treatment and remedy for CJ, made an enormous distinction. "He did so effectively in the previous couple of months of the yr, and he graduated kindergarten," Stephenson mentioned.

The one draw back was the belief that CJ can be shifting on to a different trainer. Regardless of this, his kindergarten trainer has continued to seek out methods of guaranteeing he is aware of she is going to all the time have his again. "She got here to our home a number of instances to test in on CJ via the summer season earlier than first grade, and she or he got here to his artwork present that we held for him to point out off his artwork to household and mates," Stephenson mentioned.

One other instance of that got here on the day Stephenson witnessed kids pouring out of her son’s college after a hearth alarm went off. CJ was nowhere to be seen and his mother was understandably involved. "CJ had simply walked via the door when the alarm went off," she mentioned. "This made me very apprehensive as a result of, though he has a 1-on-1 aide, they don't seem to be all the time there when he will get there. He additionally will get very overstimulated and that's when his massive behaviors come again like getting defiant or eloping."

Stephenson started to think about each nightmare state of affairs doable. The thought of CJ operating into the street unsupervised, or of it being an actual hearth and the boy being caught someplace in critical hazard. "Almost everybody else had exited the constructing, and I nonetheless hadn't seen CJ come out but," Stephenson mentioned.

Then, in a second captured on digicam and later posted to TikTok underneath the deal with @kennedy.stephenson, every little thing modified. "His kindergarten trainer got here out holding his hand! She noticed me within the automotive, waved to me, and commenced directing everybody round," Stephenson mentioned. "To not be dramatic, however she regarded like a superhero! She is a veteran trainer and she or he knew my son so effectively. She knew to carry his hand and that he wants that particular person consideration to be secure. She did not depart him behind within the workplace."

Stephenson joined TikTok to share her journey with CJ. "That second was scary for me, and some other autism mother or father might relate," she mentioned. It was additionally a reminder that CJ has folks in his nook day by day, wherever he goes. "Parenting a baby with autism is commonly arduous and unhappy. However I wish to spotlight the wonderful moments too. And the wonderful individuals who get us via it," Stephenson mentioned. "She deserves all of the flowers."