| > | | | | government and then hopefully some kind of |
| An article about bullying and Aspergers children. | | | | agenda for change will filter down to teachers, |
| In March 2007 in the UK moves were made to | | | | classroom assistants, domestic staff and |
| start putting pressure on Tony Blair and the rest | | | | everyone else in the schools. As we all know the |
| of government to start recognising and helping | | | | multi-sensory and often very hectic nature of |
| autistic children in schools who are being bullied. A | | | | schools can be difficult enough for children with |
| number of parents have outlined that their | | | | autism - so they can really do without having to |
| children are being bullied and that a lot of the time | | | | contend with the extra "attention" of playground |
| this is leading to different types of "exclusion" for | | | | bullies. |
| the autistic child. So as well as the trauma and | | | | Obviously as parents it is important to ensure |
| upset of being bullied - the chances are that the | | | | that your child has some kind of feedback loop to |
| autistic child is facing sanctions at the school as | | | | a trusted person so that any signs of bullying can |
| well. Ivan Corea, Chair of the Autism Awareness | | | | be picked up. Whether this is verbal, through |
| Campaign who are leading the campaign said: | | | | some kind of symbol or PECS board, or more |
| ‘Bullying of autistic children is going on in | | | | creative like "puppet talk" for youngsters, it needs |
| primary and secondary schools. This must stop, | | | | to be crystal clear for the child what is and what |
| some schools are punishing the autistic child rather | | | | isn't acceptable - and then what they should do |
| than the bully. We are asking the Secretary of | | | | about it. The simpler the better with this approach |
| State Alan Johnson to keep specific data of | | | | and I guess this is easier for things like physical |
| incidents of bullying and exclusion of autistic | | | | bullying - as the more subtle types of verbal |
| children and set up a mechanism where parents | | | | bullying can be more difficult to explain. But |
| and carers of children with autism can register | | | | generally your child's behaviors will be a key to |
| incidents of bullying because some autistic children | | | | something being not right and then you have the |
| with communication disorders may not even be | | | | ,often difficult, task of working out what is |
| able to tell their teachers about the bullies. We | | | | happening from there. If you do have the ear of |
| need real action on this and Lee Scott MP has | | | | your child's teacher it is worth raising this issue |
| already highlighted the seriousness of this issue in | | | | with them and finding out what mechanisms they |
| his debate on autism in parliament.' Lee Scott is | | | | have in place for your child to communicate if |
| due to meet with Tony Blair later in the year and | | | | they are being bullied. There is a useful "bullying |
| will discuss the very serious nature of autism and | | | | worksheet" that you can use to look at the |
| bullying then. | | | | issues around bullying with your Aspergers child. |
| Bullying is an awful problem with any child but the | | | | You can find it at |
| needs of a child on the autistic spectrum make | | | | So to briefly summarize this article; bullying is |
| this even worse. The lack of understanding of | | | | sadly something that all parents with a child on the |
| social cues, difficulties in communicating the | | | | autistic spectrum need to think about. This |
| problems to others, interests and hobbies that | | | | involves looking at different ways in which you |
| often seem a little "goofy" and make the child an | | | | can monitor your child to check if something is |
| easy "target" - to name but a few. So it is so | | | | going on so that you can take action. |
| important that this issue is taken seriously by the | | | | |