The mother of an 8-year-old boy with autism is preparing to take legal action against a New York school district after her son was allegedly placed in a “timeout” box at school.

On Jan. 6, Tully Rinckey PLLC., the law firm representing Rhonda Garrow, said in a press release that she is preparing to file a lawsuit against the Salmon River Central School District in Fort Covington after learning that her child, who is non-verbal, was allegedly “confined in a ‘timeout’ box” at his elementary school.

Garrow said she was unaware of what was happening until she saw a Facebook post about the box, Albany, N.Y.’s WRGB reported on Thursday, Jan. 15. She allegedly later learned that it was intended for her child.

“I feel betrayed,” Garrow told The New York Post Thursday. “They used his disability against him because he can’t defend himself, he can’t stand up for himself. The only thing he can do is yell or cry or try to run away. And I feel that’s why they got this box so they can stuff him in there and just close the door.”

The boy’s father, identified as Jacob Sunday by the outlet, along with several other concerned parents, went to the school that same day to speak with the principal.

“I definitely feel he was targeted for his disability,” Garrow told WRGB. “They used it against him because he can’t talk,” Garrow added.

She alleged that she later learned, “If he ever had an outburst, he would go in the box. He was eating all his meals in this box.”

The enclosure was said to be part of “his behavioral intervention plan,” though she reportedly never consented to and had no knowledge of the box.

While some have questioned if the act was racially motivated, the press release shared by her attorney’s office stated that “About 60% of the district’s students are Native American, and one of the schools where the timeout boxes were allegedly used sits on the St. Regis Mohawk Tribal Reservation.”

Trooper Brandi M. Ashley, a spokeswoman for State Police Troop B, told Tully Rinckey PLLC., “Currently, this matter is being addressed by the Tribal Police and the tribal community.”

“The claims made against the district are not just troubling, they are a direct violation of Ms. Garrow’s child’s rights,” Marricco said. “We are ready to proceed to fully expose the unlawful actions that led to this troubling situation in the … school district and will fight for the rights of Ms. Garrow and her child and hopefully end this nonsensical practice.”

The school district said the boxes have since been removed from classrooms and disassembled, according to her attorney. However, Greg Rinckey, founding partner of Tully Rinckey, is moving forward with seeking justice, WRGB reported.

PEOPLE reached out to Tully Rinckey PLLC., but did not immediately receive a response. 

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Since the alleged incident, the district’s director of special education, a principal, and a teacher have been placed on leave, the news station said.

Attorneys for the child’s family said an interim superintendent for the Salmon River Central School District has been appointed.

The school district did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.