A Gippsland mother has been charged by police after allegedly sewing a recording device into her non-verbal son's clothing.
Skye Cooper says she had become worried for his safety after he started refusing to go to school.
Ms Cooper is deciding whether she will fight the charges.
Skye Cooper says her seven-year-old son came home from school one day last year with what looked like bruises.
Ms Cooper said she had multiple meetings with the school to express her concerns about her son's experience but didn't feel that her concerns were being addressed.
Worried, Ms Cooper approached a disability advocate for advice and was advised to sew a recording device into his clothes.
Each night, she listened back to the audio — until she heard an aide telling her son "you hurt me, I'll hurt you".
The alleged use of a recording device was reported to police and Ms Cooper has since been charged with Regulation of Installation, Use and Maintenance of a Listening Device.
Earlier this year Ms Cooper received a formal written apology from the aide, which said she did "not specifically recall the exchange" but was "extremely remorseful that such a statement was made".
Julie Phillips is the disability advocate who has been helping Ms Cooper and who recommended placing a recording device in the child's clothes.
" it shouldn't be that [using a recording device] is the only recourse you've got, but with non-verbal people it is the only recourse you've got."
Ms Cooper said the Disability Workers Commission is investigating the issue.