Q: I have an 11 year old son who has a diagnosis of Autism. He is being bullied by other students in school and unfortunately it doesn’t seem like the school is willing to do much about it. What can I do?
A: Unfortunately, children with disabilities are at higher risks of being bullied. Addressing bullying in school requires collaboration between parents/family members, students, teachers, principal and other staff. There are steps a parent can take to help decrease the likelihood of bullying at their child’s school.
- Educate your child on bullying and how to get help
- Read the school policy on bullying
- Record dates and descriptions of the incidences of bullying
- Talk to your child’s teacher and the school principal about what has been happening
- If your child is on an Individualized Education Plan (IEP), set up a meeting with your child’s IEP team to address the bullying. Here are some helpful tips:
- Have a functional behavior assessment to address social, emotional and behavior concerns of the student.
- Ask for an adult at school who could check in with the student when they feel unsafe.
- Identify the places where the bullying occurs and increase staff support in those areas.
For more information, please see our Arc Guide to Bullying and Harassment.
If you have more questions on how to address bullying and harassment, contact the Arc Minnesota at 952-920-0855.