The Dover City School District is addressing information circulating social media that claims an Autistic child was given a separate graduation apart from the rest of his class.

The following social media post, shared over 500 times, is circulating Facebook:

The child’s mother also made this post to Facebook:

Newsymom.com reached out to Dover City Schools Superintendent, Carla Birney, to seek comment on this matter. She explained in a statement via email that Dover City Schools welcomes and encourages all high school graduates to participate in the Dover High School Graduation Ceremony this Friday, May 25^th at 7:00 p.m. at Crater Stadium.

“At no time has a Dover City Schools employee told a parent that his or her graduating senior will not be permitted to participate at Friday’s Graduation with all of the other graduating seniors,” explained Birney.  “Our school administration and staff value each and every child in our education community and recognize the significance of graduation for our students and their families.”

Birney went on to explain that they would never deny a child an opportunity to participate in graduation due to a disability. “Rather, Dover Schools, consistent with its obligations under State and federal law, has worked with parents to ensure that any reasonable accommodations requested by the parent are made so that every graduating senior may attend and participate in Graduation,” said Birney.

Following the statement request made by Newsymom.com, Dover City Schools took the same statement to social media where it’s since been shared more than 100 times.

“Simply put, contrary to any information currently circulating on social media, the school district has not, and would not, tell any student or their family that, because of any disability, their graduating senior may not attend the High School Graduation ceremony scheduled for this Friday at 7:00 p.m.” added Birney.

Michaela Madison Reporting