Tiphanee Lee has demanded an investigation after accusing her autistic son, who is nonverbal, of being abused by a Kentucky elementary school employee. The incident came to light after it was recorded on a camera that was hidden in the child’s hair.

According to People, a press conference was held by Councilwoman Tammy Hawkins on Friday, May 15, when Lee, accompanied by her husband, talked about the unfortunate incident linked to his autistic son, Semaj, who studies in Field Elementary School. An enraged mother stressed that his son couldn’t speak, but she would become his “voice” and “speak for him.”

She noted that they trusted the school for their son’s protection and care while hoping that he was respectfully treated. “Instead, he was harmed, silenced, and failed by the very people who were supposed to keep him safe,” she said.

The report suggests that the official statement was released after Lee posted a video of the troubling incident that took place on Wednesday, May 13, according to WLKY. During the conference, Lee shared that she and Semaj’s father received multiple complaints about their child’s behavior that didn’t match his usual behavior at home.

“As a mother, I knew in my heart something was not right,” Lee said. Out of concern, she then decided to place a small hidden camera in her son’s hair and was shellshocked to hear and see the recording. While it remains unclear if the little boy was physically assaulted, a video that has also gone viral on the internet shows an employee alone in the room with Semaj.

At the same time, the child’s head appeared to move suddenly and sharply. The staff member can be heard saying loudly, “Get off me now! Get off me now!” and the child’s screaming also followed noises in the background. Reacting to the video, Lee said, “What I discovered on the camera footage is something no parent should ever see or hear,” further insisting, “Our child was put in a situation where he was scared, overwhelmed, and powerless.”

On a concluding note, she requested that law enforcement pass a regulation requiring that cameras be installed in classrooms to protect students like her son. “No parent should have to question whether their child is safe at school,” she said, “no child should suffer in silence because they can’t speak.” Additionally, they also demanded a full investigation into the matter and that the accused should be terminated.

Meanwhile, WLKY reports that following the recorded incident, on May 14, Principal Deb Rivera sent a letter to the families of students studying in the school assuring that the safety of students and staff remains their “top priority.”

She revealed getting a number of calls and emails from parents and community members after the viral video. Addressing the matter, she said, “While I am unable to comment on actions regarding personnel, I want to assure you that we take these allegations seriously and are reviewing this incident with the district,” further adding that they were following all JCPS policies to understand what happened and take appropriate action.