Teen with autism says community support 'made me wicked happy inside my heart'

PELHAM, N.H. — A 14-year-old New Hampshire boy with autism says he wasn't allowed into a school dance because his clothing didn't meet the dress code.

The school district says this was all a big misunderstanding, but the community came together Monday to turn the story around.

Max says part of his autism is sensory and he's only comfortable in certain clothing.

But despite what happened at the school dance Friday, he says something truly positive came out of it all and he has learned a powerful lesson in staying true to yourself.

“It's like how the saying goes: keep calm and carry on," Max told FOX25 News.

Max says that's exactly what he did Friday night at the Pelham Memorial School dance.

“I felt devastated and embarrassed,” he explained.

Max went to the dance dressed much like he was when we met Monday: wearing sweatpants and a hooded sweatshirt. Max has autism and suffers a sensory processing disorder, so this is how he feels comfortable.

“She told me to go into her office to call someone. And I felt nervous because I thought I was going to be sent home,” said Max.

His mom, Michelle, says no sooner did she drop Max off than she was picking him back up.

“He said that they told him he could go home and get a button-down shirt and I said, ‘Max we'll go get you one.’ He goes, ‘mom I don’t even want to go back.’…I drove home listening to my son cry.”

FOX25 spoke with the superintendent of Pelham Schools on the phone and she sent us the statement she shared with the community.

"Obviously, there were communication breakdowns prior to and during this event that led to this unfortunate situation and we will use these lessons to make things better for everyone in the future," the statement read, in part.

“There's always an exception to a rule,” Michelle said. “Absolutely nobody should feel isolated and alone. Everyone should be accepted -- everyone."

“I picked myself up and I promised to try my best,” said Max.

His community has had his back.

On Monday, Max was greeted by a sea of blue at school.

Blue, the autism support color, was also on full display on the Facebook page his mom made that inspired a movement: #MaxItMonday.

“I saw people giving me high fives and saying I was the best,” Max said.

It was a gesture that made a young man's day.

“That really made me wicked happy inside my heart and I was just really happy that people actually cared for me,” Max said.

The superintendent also told me over the phone that every student matters in this school system.

Max's mom says a couple of different groups have already reached out and offered to plan dances in honor of Max.

Cox Media Group