By Mary Snow
Cherry Hill, NJ (CNN) - A father of a boy with autism was surprised to learn his son was being bullied at school, not by his classmates, but by his teachers.
Akian Chaifetz, 10, was diagnosed with autism seven years ago. His father says his son's biggest struggle now isn't his condition, but bullying by the classroom staff entrusted to care for him.
Stu Chaifetz is documenting the bullying in a very public way online, hoping that other children won't suffer the same cruelty.
Chaifetz says problems started this year when he was told his son had punched a teacher and an aide.
"I've never seen him hit anybody and that just didn't make any sense," said Chaifetz.
Frustrated by a lack of answers, Chaifetz put a recording device in his son's pocket during the school day. He was horrified to hear what was on it.
[Reporter]: "What was your reaction when you first heard that tape?"
"That night when I started listening to it, I just shattered inside," said Chaifetz.
More than six hours were recorded. Chaifetz says the toughest part was listening to Akian ask if he could see his father.
"My son, when he transitions back from his mom and I, he lives with me full time, he just has a little natural anxiety, he says may I see dad after mom? Which is his way of asking to be reassured he's coming back home," said Chaifetz.
"May I see daddy after mommy," asked Akian.
"No," said a teacher.
"Did you go see any books in the library or you just looked at sculptures," asked Akian.
"Oh Akian, you are a bastard," said a teacher.
Chaifetz says he went immediately to his son's Cherry Hill school and credits administrators with acting quickly.
In a statement, the school's superintendent said, "In February, upon receiving a copy of an audio recording, the district undertook a thorough and rigorous investigation and responded swiftly and appropriately." She said there were specifics she couldn't legally address, adding, "I want to assure our parents that the individuals who are heard on the recording raising their voices and inappropriately addressing children no longer work in the district."
Chaifetz says he felt he had no choice but to go public.
"Every child is worthy of defense and respect and that no one deserves to be treated with cruelty and to be humiliated. And we who can speak for them need to stop it by changing the law, by exposing people who bully kids and by publicly shaming them," he said.
Stu Chaifetz says one of his son's teachers wasn't fired, just sent to another school.
The superintendent's office didn't comment on that allegation.
CNN