School Takes Away Blind Boy's Cane as Punishment for Acting Up
*Dec 18, 2014, 5:36 PM ET**
**
**By SYDNEY LUPKIN**
**ABC News*
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/school-takes-blind-boys-cane-punishment-acting/story?id=27702312
PHOTO: 8-year-old Dakota Nafzinger, who was born without eyes, had his
cane taken away and replaced with a pool noodle by the North Kansas City
School District on Dec. 15, 2014.
*PHOTO: 8-year-old Dakota Nafzinger, who was born without eyes, had his
cane taken away and replaced with a pool noodle by the North Kansas City
School District on Dec. 15, 2014.WDAF*
A school took away an 8-year-old blind boy's cane as punishment for
acting up and replaced it with a pool noodle, his father told ABC News
today.
Dakota Nafzinger, who was born with no eyes, was listening to his music
on the school bus when the driver took it away from him, his father,
Donald Nafzinger said. Dakota often taps his cane to the music, but this
time, his father said he threw it in the air. Nafzinger said school
officials told him they thought Dakota was getting violent.
Then they gave Dakota a foam pool noodle in its place and sent him home
with it, Nafzinger said.
"It is his eyes," Nafzinger, 35, told ABC News. "He said he was upset
because he that's something he needs to get around with."
Dakota was born with a rare condition called bilateral anophthalmia.
Nafzinger said Dakota's mother chose to call the local news media
because she feared that "there weren't caring people left in this world."
"They shouldn't treat my kid any different than the kids that have
eyes," said Nafzinger, who works in Kansas City, Missouri, as a stage
hand. "My kid is normal except he doesn't have eyes."
The school district, North Kansas City Schools, admitted to the mistake
and has since given Dakota his cane back. Nafzinger said not only was
that a good outcome, but sharing the story has shown his family how many
supporters they have.
"The District has reviewed the situation," North Kansas City Schools
wrote in a statement. "We regret that a mistake was made in making sure
the student was in possession of his cane when he boarded the bus Monday
evening. The District has apologized to the family and is working to
rectify the situation. When we were made aware of the mistake,
corrections were made. It is always the District’s policy when we become
aware of situations like this, we thoroughly and immediately investigate
to ensure a safe learning environment for all students."
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