Bullyproofing Your Child on the Spectrum

October 7th is World Bullying Prevention Day so I thought I would address the topic of bullying among kids on the autism spectrum.

Is Your Child the Victim or the Perpetrator?

I have witnessed children on the autism spectrum being teased by their peers because of behaviors that attract unwanted attention such as echolalia or stimming. I have also seen children on the autism spectrum hurt their peers because of their lack of empathy or ability to communicate properly.

A 2010 review of various studies of special education bullying stated that special needs students are more than twice as likely than neurotypical children to be both bullied by peers as well as a bully to their peers.

A 2011 survey conducted by the International Autism Network revealed that 63 percent of interviewees with a diagnosis of autism claimed they had been bullied at some time in their life. This percentage was the same for both children who attended public, private, or home-school. This indicates that bullying issues are a social one overall as opposed to being specifically linked to the public school experience.

Integrated Classrooms Can Increase Positive Interactions Among All Students

Bullying is a popular topic of discussion in today's schools, which is a good thing for children on the autism spectrum. Teachers and administrators are aware that bullying can be a problem in their school. As a result, they are willing to address it. Autism spectrum disorder is also gaining more exposure and increasing awareness in the community. Many people today realize that ASD is a health condition that affects to varying degrees the social and communication abilities of the person who has it. Consequently, when these educated people find themselves in an awkward social situation with someone on the autism spectrum they are likely to overlook the quirky behaviors.

In 2004, the IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) enacted the concept that children with special needs should be educated in the least restrictive environment available.

In practical terms, this means that all special education students must be allowed into general education classrooms whenever possible. As a consequence, schools are less segregated than they used to be. One of the main benefits of integrated classrooms is that neurotypical children have the opportunity to interact with children on the autism spectrum on a regular basis. As a result, they are more likely to view them as similar to themselves and less different.

On the surface, it might appear that integrated classrooms would increase bullying. Actually, evidence suggests that integrated classrooms are socially beneficial for neurotypical students in the classroom. "They gain empathy and understanding from their regular interactions with special needs students and are less likely to disrespect and bully them even though there are more opportunities for bullying" ("How Can I Protect my Autistic Child from Bullying?", 2020).

Be Aware of the Warning Signs of Bullying

Parents, educators, and therapists should realize that their child, student, or client could become a victim of bullying either online or in-person at any time. Since children with ASD often have trouble communicating and may also feel embarrassed or confused about being bullied, bullying may go undetected unless someone steps in to help. The warning signs of bullying include:

• Unexplained bruises, scratches, cuts, or scrapes.

• Personal property such as schoolbooks or clothing that go missing or get ruined.

• The child frequently attempts to miss school or other activities with peers by constantly complaining of stomachaches, headaches, or just not feeling well in general.

• The child's sleeping habits (sleeping too much or not enough) and eating habits (overeating or becoming a picky eater) change.

Adult mediation is obviously important, but it can also aggravate the situation. "Studies have shown that having peers intervene can have a much greater impact on both the bullies and the victims than when an authority figure steps in" ("How Can I Protect my Autistic Child from Bullying?", 2020).

Each bullying situation is different so adults should consider all the options when deciding how to intervene. With this in mind, the best strategy may be to promote autism awareness and the social issues that accompany it. It is also important to continually teach children and remind adults about the true principle that everyone deserves kindness and respect.

Source: How Can I Protect my Autistic Child from Bullying?. (2020). Retrieved 2 October 2020, from https://www.appliedbehavioranalysisedu.org/how-can-i-protect-my-autistic-child-from-bullying/