Special needs student allegedly taped to chair by Ohio high school staffers.

In Ohio, the parents of a special needs student are speaking out after their son was allegedly taped to a chair by two high school staffers who are now facing charges.

Angela Hodge, who was on "Fox & Friends" Friday, stated that she learned about the incident when the principal called and informed them. She and her colleagues were shocked and disappointed by the news, which left them feeling hurt.

Two individuals, a former West Clermont High School teacher and a former aide, are currently facing misdemeanor unlawful restraint charges following a recorded incident that took place last month.

Allison Vestring and Rachel Smith both pleaded not guilty in separate court appearances.

Mark Hodge stated, "From a normal person's perspective, the video may seem like fun and games, but to us, it wasn't. Our point is that it shouldn't have happened."

On March 1, in a high school classroom, Dustin Hodge, a 15-year-old with Down syndrome and autism, was allegedly taped to a chair. Despite being non-verbal, he was unable to communicate.

Both staff members informed the police that the action was a jest, not a disciplinary measure.

Mark recounted how, while in school, a child brought in tape that was in his book bag. Two teachers thought it amusing to tape Dustin to the chair and were enjoying the prank. They instructed him to stand up while still taped.

"When the video is released, some viewers will dismiss it as an innocent prank involving a child being taped to a chair. However, what they are unaware of is that Dustin is constantly fidgeting and becomes anxious when restrained. To Dustin, this was a significant event. While it may not seem like a big deal to some, to us it was a major occurrence, and especially to him."

The teenager was reportedly tied up so tightly around his waist that he could only move his fingers.

West Clermont High School did not respond to Planet Chronicle' inquiry about the incident.

Dustin's father confirmed that their statement was not intended to criticize West Clermont.

Mark stated that he has had great teachers throughout school who genuinely liked and loved him. He enjoys attending school with his teachers.

The Hodge parents hope that speaking out can bring about positive change for special needs programs in their community and districts across the country.

Mark stated that the purpose of installing cameras in special needs classes, particularly those in their district, is to provide clarity on any incidents that may occur. This will allow them to review the videos if necessary and ensure the safety of their students. The installation of cameras is intended to provide peace of mind for parents and guardians of special needs children, including those with Down syndrome, who want to know what happened if their child comes home with an injury.

Angela emphasized that our special needs kids are resilient, but they require special attention. She emphasized that it is important to treat every child according to their individual needs, not just what we may have wanted for our own kids.

Despite being on spring break, Dustin's parents insisted that he would still attend school.

"Dustin is definitely resilient. Although we hung up some birthday balloons and got out the tape, he said he was scared of tape, which caught us off guard. However, other than that, he's just a happy kid who loves life and makes us smile every day."