The parents of a South Carolina high school student with autism are demanding accountability after discovering that Lakewood High School in Sumter expected their son and other students with disabilities to clean cafeteria tables and floors after lunch.
Jeremiah and Felicia Sams said their son, Will, told them he had to help clean the cafeteria after other students finished eating.
The family questioned why the school assigned the work to students with disabilities, and Jeremiah Sams said administrators later explained that the activity was part of a “work-study program.”
According to WIS, the Sumter School District said its employability classes use activities such as clearing tables to help students develop practical skills and prepare for life after graduation. The district also confirmed it is reviewing its life-skills activities and possible alternatives.
Sams said he initially struggled to believe his son’s account.
“Those teachers didn’t even say anything. They knew it was wrong,” he said.
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When Will first explained the task, his father asked him to clarify what he meant by cleaning.
“I said, ‘What are you talking about cleaning?’ That’s when we went into detail. That’s when he explained to me, ‘Oh, well, we have to go in and clean, and they give us gloves and a bucket,’” Sams said.
He said his first thought was that he had misunderstood his son. But after speaking with school leaders the following day, he said he learned that Will and other students were participating in the activity under the school’s work-study program.
Sams said he became concerned after concluding that the school had assigned the cafeteria-cleaning duties specifically to students with disabilities.
“My first reaction was something’s not right. No, I’m hearing this wrong. There’s no way that they have one group of children doing all of this,” he said.
He argued that singling out students because of their disabilities to perform a task raises questions about fairness and discrimination.
“If you are singling out a group — an individual group — to do a task, that’s discrimination. It’s black and white,” Sams said.
The district has not acknowledged wrongdoing in its public statement. Instead, officials described the activity as one of several options available through classes intended to build students’ independence and workplace skills.
“Through employability classes and individualized life skills instruction, students develop practical skills that promote independence, build confidence, and support their transition into adulthood,” the district said.
The statement explained that students may participate in activities such as clearing cafeteria tables, selling popcorn and slushies as classroom fundraisers, and making crafts. The district said those activities aim to help students practice life skills and develop competencies related to employment.
The district also said they discuss the activities during federally required annual meetings with a student’s parent or guardian.
However, Sams disputed the district’s explanation, saying he did not enroll his son in an employability class. He said the school contacted him after their meeting and told him the work-study program had ended.
The district said it is reviewing its life-skills activities and other approaches to make sure they offer meaningful opportunities that reflect each student’s needs.
“Sumter School District remains committed to working collaboratively with families to ensure students receive instruction and support that respect their individual needs and prepare them for success beyond the classroom,” the statement said.
Sams described the decision to stop the program as a positive development but said he wants the school system to take further steps to prevent similar concerns from arising.
“Definitely need to see some change in the school system. We need to see some accountability in how these kids are being monitored, how they are being pushed, essentially,” he said.
The district has not publicly detailed what prompted the review or whether it plans to make broader changes to how students with disabilities participate in school-based life-skills programs.
The dispute has led the Sams family to question how schools design activities for students with disabilities, explain those activities to families and ensure equal treatment as students learn practical skills.
The district said its review will examine existing activities and alternative approaches intended to help students build independence. It has not announced a timeline for completing that review.
