Speak Out Against...Bullying Those with Disabilities

Today Zane’s blog has joined the Speak Out Against…Tour at Moxie Writers. Why? Because bullying is something I worry about for Zane. He’s a vulnerable little guy in our big community of people. And while we and the people who love and care for him see all these beautiful and amazing things about him, not everyone will. In fact, some of them may focus on what’s different about him: his elfin ear, his loud vocalizations, the fact that he doesn’t yet walk, the fact that he sometimes drools. Since Zane is non-verbal, he cannot speak up for himself. So he relies heavily on bystanders to do it for him.

 

Pacer is a wonderful resource if you have a child with a disability who is experiencing bullying.  Here is some information they provide:

 

• The Power of Bystanders – More than 50 percent of bullying situations stop when a peer intervenes.
• Students with disabilities are much more likely to be bullied than their nondisabled peers.

As Pacer goes on to say, bullying of children with disabilities is significant but there is very little research to document it.

 

Only 10 U.S. studies have been conducted on the connection between bullying and developmental disabilities but all of these studies found that children with disabilities were two to three times more likely to be bullied than their nondisabled peers. One study shows that 60 percent of students with disabilities report being bullied regularly compared with 25 percent of all students.

The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) have stated that bullying may also be considered harassment when it is based on a student’s race, color, national origin, sex, or disability.

Harassing behaviors may include:

• Unwelcome conduct such as: Verbal abuse, such as name-calling, epithets, slurs
• Graphic or written statements
• Threats
• Physical assault
• Other conduct that may be physically threatening, harmful, or humiliating
• Students have protection under federal laws.   

(All bullying information is provided by Pacer).

 

Fortunately, Zane attends an elementary school where there is a zero tolerance for bullying. In fact, the school has created a very warm and welcoming culture for students with differences. It is evident in the staff and the students we encounter in the hallways. I applaud them for the wonderful work they have done to instill acceptance of all.

 

But not all schools are that way. So be sure to act as a voice for your child and empower those around you to do the same.

 

Check out our new releases on bullying and teen dating violence, as well as the rest of the Speak Out Against…Tour here.