Parents of autistic children often worry about how they’re going to handle the intricacies of the school environment. Getting used to a new school year can take time, but if you notice that your child appears to be struggling, it’s normal to wonder if bullying might be to blame.
Read on to learn about autism and how it relates to bullying in schools, as well as what you can do if you suspect your child is being bullied.
The Prevalence of Bullying Directed at Autistic Children
Bullying in schools isn’t uncommon in general, as plenty of children deal with cruelty in school settings, both from teachers and other students.
However, autistic children are particularly vulnerable to bullying with studies claiming that 46% of autistic children have been bullied in middle school or high school. Keep in mind that this number is based on reported incidents of bullying in children who have been formally diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, so the true number may be significantly higher.
Why Are Autistic Children Targeted?
Not that there is anything that excuses bullying a person with special needs, but it’s important to be aware of characteristics that make autistic children a common target for bullies. Some of these characteristics and behaviors include:
- Isolation from other students
- Lack of a support system at school
- Stimming or repetitive behaviors
- Difficulty understanding feelings and intentions
- Low self-esteem
- Flat voice or particular body language
- Negative labeling by peers or teachers
- Noted sensitivity to light or sound
In addition to these characteristics, many autistic children struggle to defend themselves, both verbally and physically. This makes it easier for bullying behaviors to continue unchecked in many situations.
Is My Child Being Bullied?
Depending on your child’s unique characteristics and levels of expression, it can be challenging to notice when something is bothering him or her. For example, if your child is nonverbal, they can’t be expected to tell a parent or trusted adult when something is wrong.
If you haven’t had bullying incidents reported to you by your child’s teacher, consider it a positive sign, but don’t let it close you off from your child’s needs. Teachers aren’t always aware of what occurs between students, and in very unfortunate circumstances, teachers contribute to the hardships autistic children can face.
Keep an eye out for physical or emotional signs that your child might exhibit. Unexplained bruising, cuts, or sudden “loss” of their belongings are all signs of bullying. Additionally, so are bouts of anger and aggression with no apparent trigger, mood swings, anxiety, notable sadness, and emotional withdrawal.
While none of these signs prove that your child is being bullied, each one is worth investigating. If your child is verbal, try asking him or her open-ended questions about school. If your child struggles to communicate verbally, consider communicating through writing or drawing.
How Can You Help?
If you suspect that your child is being bullied at school, your instinct as a parent will be to get to the bottom of it. Talk to your child, his or her friends, doctors, and/or teachers about your concerns. Investigate as much as you can to determine whether you can uncover any evidence.
Some situations will be easier to address than others. For example, if your child told you about an incident that occurred or you witnessed it yourself, you can reasonably conclude that your child is being bullied. With this in mind, take the following steps:
- Report: Contact your child’s school and report the incident or incidents to the proper authorities. This could be your child’s teacher, guidance counselor, or principal. After filing a report, continue to check in with your child and his or her school officials on occasion to note any changes that have taken place.
Unfortunately, a report isn’t always enough to stop bullying in schools, so consider this step an attempt to inform adults at your child’s school more than a concrete resolution. - Document: Keep a record of the dates the incidents occurred, the details surrounding it, and copies of any reports you file with your child’s school. In addition, if your child comes home with physical injuries or damaged belongings, take photos.
- Offer Support: Provide your child with all the safety and support you can offer. Let your child know that you’ll do everything in your power to help. Tell them you care, and remind them that being bullied isn’t their fault. Additionally, talk to your child about what he or she can reasonably expect at school (safety, respect, etc.).
Create a Plan of Action
If you have followed the above steps and the bullying continues, it’s time to create a more thorough action plan.
Reach out to a local advocacy group that aims to help young people with special needs. Many times, professionals working at these organizations will be able to provide you with resources you can use to your advantage.
It’s also a good idea to read through your state’s bullying laws to discover whether the actions perpetrated against your child are considered a crime. If so, it might be time to bypass your child’s school and contact a legal professional for advice.
You might also consider seeking therapeutic options for your child, for example, APA therapy. This stands for Applied Behavioral Analysis which aims to develop an understanding of an autistic person’s thoughts and behaviors. From there, it monitors skill development and how the individual’s environment affects life.
ABA therapy also aims to help autistic people adjust to the world around them on their own terms, which may help them understand and address bullying and discover ways to self-advocate.
When looking for a therapist or advocacy professional to work with, vetting your options is crucial. You’ll want to work with individuals who have experience with autistic people and focus on assisting the individual instead of “treating” or even worse, “curing” the individual’s ASD.
Careful consideration and paying close attention to your child’s cues should help you determine whether your child is facing bullying at school. Follow your instincts because usually, when something feels off, it is. Do your best to advocate for your child so that you can help put a stop to injustices they’re dealing with at school.