A blind child in a Kansas City school was punished for hitting a classmate by having his cane taken away and replaced with a pool floatation noodle, Fox News reported on Wednesday.
Dakota Nafzinger was born with a condition that left him without eyes. His cane was confiscated after a bus driver said he hit another student with a cane the school provided for him. According to a district spokeswoman, he was given the bent green noodle because he fidgets and needs to hold something.
"They said they were going to give me this for the next two weeks," Dakota said.
Donald Nafzinger, the boy's father, said that the bus driver must have thought he was lifting his cane to be menacing, but added that the school is trying to humiliate him by giving him the pool toy, Fox 2 News reported.
Rachel Nafzinger, his mother, said its cruel that his punishment involved something he relies on for guidance. A report said he went to his sister's concert with the pool noodle.
"It's a lot harder with this," the boy told the station. "Can't feel things."
The school district issued a statement saying that it regrets that they made an error and reviewed the situation.
"A mistake was made in making sure the student was in possession of his cane when he boarded the bus Monday evening," according the statement. "When we were made aware of the mistake, corrections were made."