Anti-Bullying Week is a great opportunity to share stories and open conversation about a very sensitive topic. For individuals on the spectrum, bullying can be more prevalent, more severe and, due to communication challenges, even harder to talk about. This article shares personal stories about bullying to inspire change… Wanting to raise awareness of some

Continue reading

in Bullying by Yolande Loftus, BA, LLB

When your child is the target of bullying, your first response is often an emotional one, followed by wanting to act in the most effective, action-oriented way. This article offers a few helpful suggestions. When you discover your child is being bullied, you may be angry, fearful, or sad. These emotional responses are natural for

Continue reading

in Bullying by Julie Hertzog

“I wouldn’t change you for the world, but I would change the world for you,” says every parent of a child with autism. Autism is often seen as an invisible illness. People cannot “see” the disability like they can see a person in a wheelchair or with a deformity; they just see the quirky behaviors.

Continue reading

in Bullying by Crystal Gallagher

Many people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) find communication challenging, which in turn, can create a heavy reliance on the digital and online world.  While helpful in many ways in connecting people, the Internet can open people up to a world where there are no rules or protections. The most common online danger these days

Continue reading

in Bullying by Valerie Malecha

Bullying is an issue for all adolescents and teens, but none more so than those on the autism spectrum who often experience abusive and antagonistic behavior from peers nearly half of the time. That’s about twice as often as bullying experienced by average adolescents, according to the National Bullying Prevention Center. Autism spectrum disorders (ASD)

Continue reading

in Bullying by Emily Andrews

My name is Leanne, I’m 24 years old, and have a very mild form of autism called Asperger’s syndrome. Here are some things you should not say to people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD): 1. You don’t care about anybody but yourself Let me explain. Even though it may seem like people on the autism

Continue reading

in Bullying by Leanne Strong

Growing up can be a challenge even under the best of circumstances. But when you are the parent of a child with a disability bullied because he or she is different, the ability to cope and resolve this type of situation can be upsetting. While there is no single or easy solution, there are several

Continue reading

in Bullying by Bret Colson

“Hate crime” is a common term used to describe abusive verbal and physical behavior which targets someone on the basis of his/her gender, race, religion, disability, nationality, or sexual orientation.  Children and young people on the autistic spectrum are also at risk of a more subtle and devious manipulation known as “mate crime,” a relatively

Continue reading

in Bullying by Catherine Sarginson, MPhil

Passing by a playground, you’ll sometimes hear bullying remarks like, “Hey, Fatty—the ocean isn’t even big enough for a whale like you!” So painful! Most of us have experienced the physical and/or emotional pain of bullying in our lifetime, the negative effects of which sadly can last a lifetime. Even as adults, we aren’t free

Continue reading

in Bullying by Karen Kabaki-Sisto, MS, CCC-SLP

Pam asks: “My non-verbal 6-year-old came home from school today with bite marks on his forearm and thigh. My friends think I should call the police and my husband says we need to contact the school and bus company first. I don’t want people thinking we did this to him. What do we do?” Pam,

Continue reading

in Bullying by Angelina M., MS, BCBA, LMFT

This is the question of the month as featured in Issue Number 10 Question: Can bullying being put into an IEP? Answer: In the USA and the UK bullying can be addressed in the IEP (Individualized Education Program).  In the USA, IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) requires public schools to provide FAPE (Free Appropriate

Continue reading

in Bullying by Leslie Burby