children with special needs were two to three times more likely to be bullied than their peers. According to PACER’S National Bullying Prevention Center, one study has shown that 60 percent of students with disabilities report being bullied regularly compared with 25 percent of total students. This should be disheartening to each of us and should act as a wake-up call to government legislators, educators and parents. Because bullying involves an imbalance of physical or psychological power, students with special needs are especially vulnerable and frequently targeted. For example, in the fall of 2009, responses to a Massachusetts Advocates for Children online survey asked about the extent of bullying against children on the autism spectrum. Nearly 90 percent of parents responded that their children had been bullied. These findings are applicable to most students with disabilities. All children deserve to feel safe in school. The Federation for Children with Special Needs lists a few ways parents can support a child with special needs who is being bullied:
- Tell your child that this is not his or her fault, and that your child did nothing wrong.
- Gently emphasize that above all, your child should not retaliate or attempt to fight or hit the bully.
- Role-play ignoring the bully or walking away.
- With your child, make a list of adults in school he or she can go to for help, such as counselors or administrators.
- Arrange for him or her to see friends on the weekends, and plan fun activities with the family.
Tags: autism, special needs, kids, kids health, National Autism Awareness Month, bullies, bully, bullying