A father in Dartmouth, N.S. says his son, who lives with autism, has been suspended because his school isn’t equipped to deal with his special needs and behaviours.

Greg Janes says his 8-year-old son Zack excels in math, loves horseback riding and practical jokes, but tends to struggle in social situations.

“He does kick. He does throw things,” says Janes.

The Grade 3 student attends school in Dartmouth and has been suspended by Nova Scotia’s French school board twice this year due to violent behaviour. His latest suspension was issued last week and Janes worries that, unless special support services are put in place, his son may not be allowed back.

“I really do believe in my heart of hearts that everybody who is involved with Zack really do love him and wants the best for him, but they’re not sure what the best is.”

Janes met with school officials and doctors this week but they have yet to come to a resolution.

Meanwhile, Zack is out of school and Janes is worried about the effect that will have on his son.

“He’s 8 years old and he wants to do self-harm and it’s very difficult as a parent to watch that and have nowhere to turn.”

The director of the school board says the school, the board, and the Department of Education provide a full range of services to meet the needs of students on the autism spectrum.

Janes says he doesn’t blame the teachers or school officials, and he did meet with Nova Scotia Education Minister Karen Casey on Thursday.

“I hope there is a solution to this and all parties can work together and come to a solution where Zack can thrive and excel because he has a human right to do that.”

Casey says she can't talk about this specific case, but did say school boards work with families to make sure students have the support they need. The province has $147.5 million set aside for special education grants.

“The province has also added a special needs grant of $1.5 million, and that is to address complex issues, and it sounds to me like this would be considered a complex issue,” says Casey. “So that additional funding has been provided to the boards on a needs base.”

Janes says the school has offered to send a tutor to his home, but only if there is a support worker present, and right now he doesn’t know what to do.

“I hope this is not the standard of how we treat kids with autism here in Nova Scotia, because if it is, it really sucks.”

With files from CTV Atlantic's Kelland Sundahl