To Protect Children Diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome from Bullying in our Public Schools and to Create Positive Healthy Supports!
There is an epidemic of abuse and bullying going on in our public schools. An overwhelming number of the bullying is happening to students with a form of Autism called Asperger's Syndrome. Children with AS are targeted because of their differences and special needs. Each year we hear in the news that many children with AS who are repeatedly being bullied at school are committing suicide. We must take ACTION to PROTECT ALL CHILDREN!
As an Advocate for children with Autism, I am constantly contacted by parents across the United States desperate to stop the bullying and to help their AS child thrive emotionally and educationally at school. Parents report that their child is misunderstood, ridiculed, physically and emotionally bullied by classmates and sadly even by some educators who do nothing to stop the bullying when they observe it. The bullying is taking place in the classroom, in the hallways, in the restrooms, during lunch and recess. Often a child with AS who is being bullied will become severely depressed because classmates are also intentionally creating situations of isolatation during social times such as recess and lunch which are crucial times for interacting and making friends.
When parents contact me for help, it is very common to hear that they are scheduling and attending numerous parent/teacher conferences, meeting with school officials and the abuse continues...In newscasts I hear about law suits brought by the parents towards school districts to hold the school district accountable for the abuse that has taken place. It seems that many school districts turn a complete blind eye and do nothing to stop the abuse and many times blames the student with AS for the bullying as if they brought it on themselves or call the police to report that the AS child has been involved in a fight. I have even heard that school districts often times do not even acknowledge that bullying has been reported by the student or the parents. Many schools do not keep a written record of the parents and child's reports of bullying. That makes it the schools word against the parent/childs word. It seems that many school districts are more than willing to protect their teachers and administrators than to protect a child that is being bullied.
Parents also report that they feel they have no other options and must homeschool just to protect their child's emotional and physical safety.
I want to point out that I have personally met many wonderful teachers and administrators who have been educated about Asperger's and understand that children with AS must be protected from the above issues. But sadly, often when I work with families and meet with teachers, I often hear from regular education even some special education teachers that their school districts are not giving them the appropriate training and education that they need to teach and understand a child with AS in their classroom. There is a vicious cycle taking place and it needs to stop now!
If you know of a child that has Asperger's Syndrome and they are being abused at school please contact me at debadk@charter.net to learn more about how to stop the abuse and help them have a happy, fulfilling life at school!
Deb
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