Mother secretly places camera in her autistic son’s hair after repeated complaints from school

A woman was left horrified after secretly placing a camera inside her autistic son’s hair and allegedly capturing disturbing interactions inside his classroom.

Tiphanee Lee, from Louisville, decided to take matters into her own hands after months of repeated calls from staff at Field Elementary School complaining about 7-year-old Semaj’s behavior.

But according to her, the reports she was hearing from school officials did not match the child she knew at home.

Semaj is autistic and non-verbal, and Lee said he had never displayed the kinds of aggressive behaviors she was allegedly being told about by school staff.

"This all started because over the course of months, I was flooded with calls and complaints about my child’s behavior - behavior that was not typical, not normal, and not something that, as his parents, we had ever seen in our sweet child," she shared during a May 15 press conference.

“As his mother, I knew in my heart something was not right," she added.

After weeks of growing concern, the worried mom bought a small hidden recording device and clipped it into her son’s ponytail before sending him to school.

She said what the footage later revealed was devastating.

Camera footage allegedly captured aggressive treatment inside classroom

Per recordings obtained by several news outlets, Semaj appeared calm and quiet until his primary teacher briefly left the classroom.

Soon afterward, another staff member, identified by Wave 3 News as an assistant teacher, allegedly began speaking aggressively toward the child.

In a video shared online, the person can allegedly be heard shouting phrases including "Get off me, boy," "Get over here!" and "Go away," while the video shakes erratically.

As the interaction escalates, Semaj reportedly begins stimming by clapping before eventually screaming and crying - something Lee said only happens when her son becomes overwhelmed or distressed.

At one point, the assistant allegedly tells him: "I’m not playing with you no more," before later shouting: "Get out of here".

Lee said the recordings left her believing her son had been assaulted while at school.

"We trusted his school to protect him, to care for him, and to treat him with dignity. Instead, he was harmed, silenced, and failed by the very people who was supposed to keep him safe," she said, per Wave3.

"What I discovered on the camera footage is something no parents should ever have to ever see or hear."

The mother also alleged that parts of the recording captured staff members discussing marijuana use and edibles while inside the classroom.

Investigation underway as officials respond

Jefferson County Public Schools confirmed that an investigation into the allegations is underway, and that both district police and Child Protective Services are involved.

Reports state the staff member at the center of the allegations has been barred from returning to Field Elementary while the investigation continues.

During Friday’s press conference, Lee called for transparency, accountability, and the termination of any staff members involved.

"Our child was put in a situation where he was scared, overwhelmed, and powerless. And while this was happening, there was adults in the room who did nothing to stop it," Lee said, per Newsone. “This is unacceptable."

Family spokesperson Wayne Miller-Crawford also addressed the allegations publicly.

"We deeply understand and respect the importance of transparency in all our engagements," Miller-Crawford said. "As we move forward, we will continue to take the appropriate, necessary steps to ensure that accountability and awareness remain our primary focus."

Councilman Andrew Owen said the claims were "disturbing," while Councilwoman Tammy Hawkins said she was concerned that policies designed to protect vulnerable students may not have been properly followed.

Hawkins also revealed her office had received several calls and messages after the videos were posted on social media, with complaints involving both Field Elementary and other schools within the district.

Mother now pushing for cameras in special education classrooms

Lee is now urging lawmakers to require cameras in all ECE classrooms to help protect children like Semaj, who may not be able to speak for themselves.

"Silence is not a face of abuse, and just to be quiet and keep it going, it’s you being complicity. My son has severe non-verbal autism. He cannot speak for autism. He cannot speak, but I can. I am his voice, and I will speak for him. And this cannot stop with my son," she said.

She said her goal now is to ensure no other parent experiences what her family has gone through.

Featured image credit: Google Maps