The parents of a blind 8-year-old boy are outraged after they say a school bus driver took their son’s cane away from him and gave him a pool noodle to use instead.

School officials admit they confiscated the cane, which is school property, from student Dakota Nafzinger so that he would not injure himself or others on the bus. School officials say they acted after reports surfaced that Nafzinger hit another student with the cane while riding the bus.

But the parents are convinced the incident was a misunderstanding and that their son is being humiliated as a form of punishment.

Born without eyes, the boy says it is much harder to get around using the pool noodle.

After seeing the child's story on the news, WDAF says a local resident has inquired about purchasing a cane for the child, so he doesn't have to rely on school property anymore.

About the Author

Featured

The city of Brookhaven's mayor and City Council last week decided to remove the colored panes of glass from the dome of Brookhaven's new City Centre after residents objected to the brightness of the colors, seen here Friday, June 27, 2025. (Reed Williams/AJC)

Credit: Reed Williams/AJC