It’s the end of August for families and we are all getting back into the routine of a new school year and all the excitement and stress that it brings. For our kids with learning differences, it is especially important to know everything about their day at school. Because we understand if our kids are too stressed or traumatized in the school setting then their development is stunted, learning stops, and it snowballs from there. One crucial component of their day that we need to be aware of is bullying in school settings. Bullying can have lifelong effects on our children if we don’t address it proactively with the district.
Bullying, defined by stopbullying.gov is “… unwanted, aggressive behavior among school aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time.” Nationwide, 20% of students between the ages of 12-18 experienced being bullied (Facts About Bullying | StopBullying.gov).
Children with disabilities are more at risk of being bullied. (stopbullying.gov/ bullying/special-needs). Children with disabilities are also considered a protected class. This means, “when bullying is directed at a child because of his or her established disability and it creates a hostile environment at school, bullying behavior may cross the line and become “disability harassment.” Under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the school must address the harassment.” (Bullying and Youth with Disabilities and Special Health Needs | StopBullying.gov)
An important point I noticed while doing my research, is that schools don’t have to wait to until the behavior creates a hostile environment to act. Schools can address the bullying of our students as soon as they learn of it. Parents, it is up to us to make sure the districts learn of the harassment and address it as soon as possible.
If you suspect or know that your child is being bullied at school, report it to the district.
1. Ask for the district policy on bullying/harassment.
2. School employees and volunteers are required to report bullying to the district. Find out what has been reported and why or why not.
3. Respectfully request in writing, a meeting with the district. This link has some great information on how to request, prepare, and conduct yourself in the meeting. (Working With the School - What Parents Should Know About Bullying - PACER's National Bullying Prevention Center)
4. Keep a log of your correspondence – Dates, times, individuals’ names and roles.
If the situation is not adequately resolved, consider: filing a formal complaint with Ohio Department of Education (Complaint Information Sheet (ohio.gov) or contacting the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights and the U.S. Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division for help.
Our children are growing and developing differently and need all of the support they can get to become the adults they need to be to navigate this complex world. We must immediately stop anything that impedes that development. We must know our children's rights in these situations so we can effectively advocate for them.
Resources:
Ohio Department of Education: Anti Harassment Intimidation And Bullying Resources | Ohio School Safety Center
Government Resources: Facts About Bullying | StopBullying.gov
Federal Laws: Federal Laws | StopBullying.gov
October is National Bullying Prevention Month: National Bullying Prevention Month - National Bullying Prevention Center (pacer.org)