bullying & students with disabilities a parent-teacher workshop
TRANSCRIPT
Bullying & Students with Disabilities
A Parent-Teacher Workshop
Objective / Rationale• Give examples of roles, responsibilities, and concerns of
families in regard to the cultural, social, and learning needs of their exceptional children.
• Parents, teachers, and students are all responsible for being advocates for students with disabilities. Bullying can affect a student socially and academically, and is a popular concern among parents. It is a parent’s role to be an advocate for their student. Parents have a responsibility to check in with their children and monitor for signs of bullying/suicidal thoughts. If a parent learns that their child is being bullied, it is their responsibility to seek help for their child, contact their school, and do everything in their power to stop the bullying. Parents can also take a more active role with their schools via a bullying prevention program!
• By the end of this workshop, parents will understand what bullying is, the effects of bullying on a student, how to speak with their children about bullying, how to recognize if their child is being bullied, and how to work with their child’s school to prevent and stop their child from being bullied.
The Power of Story
• Please get into groups of 5 at your tables.• Take turns sharing one of your favorite stories
about your children and/or your family. Please keep stories brief (2-3 minutes per person).
• Share your photograph that you brought with you!
• While group members are sharing, one group member should fill out the worksheet that you just received.
• After groups are done sharing stories, groups will introduce their members to the rest of the class – and mention an interesting fact they shared in their story!
What is Bullying?
• “Bullying is an unwanted, aggressive behavior among school aged children. It involves real or perceived power imbalance and the behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time. Both kids who are bullied and kids who bully others may have serious, lasting problems.”
Bully: The Movie
• Bully: Official Trailer
• Exclusive Interview with Lee Hirsch about "Bully" and Special Needs
What is Bullying?
• In your groups, please discuss the following questions:– What is the difference between a
one-time incident of mean behavior and bullying?
– Brainstorm an example.
Be prepared to share with the class!
What is Bullying?
• There are different types of bullying:– Verbal/Written– Emotional– Physical– Cyberbullying
• In your groups, please discuss the differences between these types of bullying, and what they entail.
The Effects of Bullying• Bullying has long-lasting effects on both victims and perpetrators.• On victims:
– Post-traumatic stress– Poor Grades– Change in behavior, eating habits, social relationships/interactions– Depression– Decreased Self-esteem– Suicidal thoughts or actions– Negative outlook on school
• On perpetrators:– Frequent fights– Stealing/vandalizing property– Committing crimes later in life– Poor Grades– Negative outlook on school
In groups, can you think of other possible effects? Please share with the class!
The Effects of Bullying
• In groups please discuss:– Why do you think students may feel
like they have nowhere to turn when they are being bullied?
– Why don’t some want to speak with their parents or teachers about being bullied?
Be prepared to share with the class!
The Effects of Bullying
• Mother: Bullies Drove Her Son to Suicide• Mother: Bullies Drove Her Son to
• Parents Speak Out about Son’s Suicide, Bullying
The Effects of Bullying
• Suicidal thoughts and actions are a serious and deadly effect that bullying may have on students.
• Suicide Prevention:– Start prevention EARLY.– Talk with your child about bullying.– Keep up with and monitor your child’s
social media websites/email/text messages.
– Seek mental health/counseling services if your child seems frequently depressed, may be considering suicide, or may be bullied.
Bullying/Suicide Prevention
• 6 Tips for Parents for Bullying Prevention
• Bullying: Why do parents miss it?
Who is at Risk?• 70 percent of all high school students say they have been
bullied. (source: American Psychological Association)• 90 percent of all fourth through eighth graders have been
bullied. (National School Safety Center)• Approximately 160,000 U.S. students miss school each day
because they are being bullied. (National Education Association)
• 42 percent of children have been cyberbullied and 53 percent admit to cyberbullying someone else. (i-SAFE Inc.)
• 9 in 10 lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) students have experienced some form of bullying at school. (It Gets Better Campaign and Stop Bullying Now!)
• Victims of bullying are up to 9 times more likely to contemplate suicide. (Yale University)
Who is at Risk?
• Children of both genders and of all ages, appearances, backgrounds, cultures, personalities and social groups are bullied. However, research has shown that children and adolescents who have neurodevelopmental conditions—like ADHD, Asperger’s syndrome and other autism spectrum disorders, Tourette’s disorder and learning disabilities—are especially vulnerable to being bullied. That’s because many of these children are socially delayed, and can have trouble understanding or responding appropriately to social cues.
Who is at Risk?
• In your groups, please discuss:– Why might students with disabilities
be victims of bullying?– Why might students without
disabilities see students with disabilities as targets for bullying?
– Why might students with disabilities bully others?
What does the law say?
Please refer to your handouts!• There are two laws that protect students with
disabilities from being harassed (bullying is harassment).
• These two laws are:– Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
(Section 504)– Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
(ADA)
• Law that may also be violated if a student with disabilities is being harrassed:– Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
What does the law say?
• Section 504, ADA, IDEA– Schools, colleges, universities, and other
educational institutions have a responsibility to ensure equal educational opportunities for all students, including students with disabilities.
– These laws require that schools give students a free and appropriate public education (FAPE). If a student with disabilities is being harassed, it may mean that a hostile environment has been created and their education is being disturbed – no longer making it appropriate in the current setting.
What does the law say?
– Parents may initiate administrative due process procedures under IDEA, Section 504, or Title II to address a denial of FAPE, including a denial that results from disability harassment.
– Harassing conduct also may violate state and local civil rights, child abuse, and criminal laws.
CCSD on Bullying• “The Clark County School District is committed to
providing a safe, secure, and respectful learning environment for all students and employees in all District facilities, school buildings, school buses, on school grounds, and at school-sponsored activities. Bullying, cyberbullying, harassment, and intimidation have a harmful social, physical, psychological, and academic impact on victims, bystanders, and even the bullies themselves. The school district strives to consistently and vigorously address bullying, cyberbullying, harassment, and intimidation so that there is no disruption to the learning environment and learning process.” – CCSD District Policy
CCSD on Bullying
• CCSD prohibits bullying:– “Bullying and/or cyberbullying
behavior are prohibited. This includes, but is not limited to, going to and from school and any activity under school supervision.”
Bullying…. Why?
• Please discuss with your groups:– If bullying is so harmful, and schools are
required to stop it, why does it still happen?• Remember to consider previous discussions:
– Why may a student not tell their parents or teachers they are being bullied?
– Why do students bully others?– Why might parents not tell the school if their child
is being bullied?– Why might a school staff member not want to
intervene if a child is being bullied?
Fill out your worksheets, and be prepared to share!
Lunch Break!
• Lunch will be served in the school cafeteria.
• Please return to this room at
12:20 P.M.
Enjoy!
Recognizing Bullying• Signs & Symptoms for Victims:
– Distressed/Anxious, and will not tell you what is wrong.– Unexplained cuts and bruises.– Reluctance to go to school.– Changes in mood and behavior.– Lower confidence and self-esteem.– Complains of headaches and stomach aches.– Problems sleeping.– Likely to have very few friends and appears to be socially
isolated.– Possible decline in school performance.– Appears to be upset after being online.– Appears to be upset after viewing a text message.– Withdraws from social interaction with peers.
Recognizing Bullying• Signs and Symptoms in Perpetrators
– Impulsive, hot-headed, dominant, manipulative– Smooth talker in tough situations.– Easily frustrated.– Lacking empathy.– Having difficulty following rules.– Viewing violence in a positive way.– Physically stronger than other children (usually in boys).– Insecurities.– Aggressive, even toward adults.
• Family Risk Factors for Bullying:– A lack of warmth and involvement on the part of the parents.– Overly permissive parenting (a lack of limits).– A lack of supervision by parents.– Harsh, physical discipline.– Bullying incidences at home.
Preventing Bullying• Create a home environment of tolerance, where differences
are celebrated and everyone feels valued. • Encourage your school to develop policies and procedures
regarding bullying. • Ask for a bullying prevention program to be implemented in
your school. • Intervene every time you witness bullying behavior. • If your child bullies others, provide predictable, consistent,
matter-of-fact consequences. • Support the child who is bullied. Work with the school to
provide your child with effective protection against retaliation. • Encourage bystanders to speak out against bullying behavior
and to report it to adults. • Spend time with your child. All children need a daily, personal
connection with parents, teachers and other caring adults.
Talking About Bullying
• Help kids understand bullying. Talk about what bullying is and how to stand up to it safely. Tell kids bullying is unacceptable. Make sure kids know how to get help.
• Keep the lines of communication open. Check in with kids often. Listen to them. Know their friends, ask about school, and understand their concerns.
• Encourage kids to do what they love. Special activities, interests, and hobbies can boost confidence, help kids make friends, and protect them from bullying behavior.
• Model how to treat others with kindness and respect.
Helping Kids Understand Bullying
• Encourage kids to speak to a trusted adult if they are bullied or see others being bullied. The adult can give comfort, support, and advice, even if they can’t solve the problem directly. Encourage the child to report bullying if it happens.
• Talk about how to stand up to kids who bully. Give tips, like using humor and saying “stop” directly and confidently. Talk about what to do if those actions don’t work, like walking away
• Talk about strategies for staying safe, such as staying near adults or groups of other kids.
• Urge them to help kids who are bullied by showing kindness or getting help.
• Watch the short webisodes and discuss them with kids. (These webisodes are for younger children.)– Webisodes!
Keep Lines of Communication Open
• Even if it is just 15 minutes per day, talk with your child about:– What was one good thing that
happened today? Any bad things?– What is lunch time like at your
school? Who do you sit with? What do you talk about?
– What is it like to ride the school bus?– What are you good at? What would
do you like best about yourself?
Keep Lines of Communication Open
• Conversation starters about bullying:– What does “bullying” mean to you?– Describe what kids who bully are like. Why do you think people
bully?– Who are the adults you trust most when it comes to things like
bullying?– Have you ever felt scared to go to school because you were
afraid of bullying? What ways have you tried to change it?– What do you think parents can do to help stop bullying?– Have you or your friends left other kids out on purpose? Do you
think that was bullying? Why or why not?– What do you usually do when you see bullying going on?– Do you ever see kids at your school being bullied by other kids?
How does it make you feel?– Have you ever tried to help someone who is being bullied? What
happened? What would you do if it happens again?
Contacting Your School• Document each bullying incident. • Contact your child's teacher and the school's administrative office in
writing to request a meeting.• In the meeting, discuss the incidents and give copies of your
documentation to the administration. • Ask about what action would be done according to the school's policy
and get a time frame for taking action.• Take notes and ask for a written copy of what was discussed.• Follow up to make sure the actions are followed through with.• If the issue still isn't resolved, be prepared to keep going up the
ladder to the superintendent, the school board, the police or an attorney if the bullying continues.
Remember, YOU are your child’s best advocate!!!
Please see these 2 handouts for a template letter in contacting your school if your child is being bullied and has an IEP or a Section
504 Plan!
CCSD Instructions for Reporting Bullying
• If you have been bullied, or have first-hand knowledge that another student is being bullied:– Report any incidents to a teacher,
counselor, or school administrator.– Also encouraged to report knowledge of
bullying on the CCSD “Say No to Bullying” web site. This is anonymous!
• Any school employee is also required to report any instances of bullying that they witness or have knowledge about to the school principal or the principal’s designee.
Bullying Prevention with Schools
• In your groups, please fill out your worksheet!• You will be brainstorming 3 ways to work with
your child’s school to prevent bullying.• Pick 1 way.• Create an action plan.
– Details of your program?– Who will you contact?– Steps to begin the program– Steps to maintain the program
Be prepared to share with the class!
Closing
• Today we covered:– What bullying is.– The effects of bullying.– Who is at risk for bullying.– The laws protecting students with disabilities from
being harassed.– How to recognize if a child is being bullied.– How to talk to your child about bullying.– How to contact your school if your child is being
bullied.– Working with your school to prevent bullying!
• Action Plans!
Closing• Remember that prevention is the key to stop bullying!• I hope you will put your action plans into motion!
• Please contact me with any further questions, comments, or concerns!
• Sierra Percival– Oakey Oaks Elementary School– (702) 444-4444– [email protected]
Don’t forget to take your tip sheets home with you!
Handouts
• During this workshop, parents would receive the following informational handouts:– Bullying and Children and Youth with Disabilities an
d Special Health Needs– Help Your Child Recognize the Signs of Bullying– The Individualized Education Program (IEP) and
Bullying– Telling Classmates About Your Child’s Disability
May Foster Acceptance– Use Positive Strategies to Protect Your Child with
Disabilities from Bullying– Bullying and Harassment of Students with
Disabilities (Top 10 facts)– Notifying the School about a Bullying Incident –
Using a Template letter