Stand Up to Bullying
Bullying can be a devastating experience for any child, but when the child being bullied has special needs, serious and long-term consequences for the child may result. Fortunately, special needs children receive extra protection under the law. Parents can invoke laws that have been written specifically to protect children with disabilities who are bullied. First, what qualifies as bullying? Bullying includes physical threats, but it may also encompass verbal abuse (teasing and threats), graphic or written statements, and behavior that creates a hostile environment or infringes on a student’s rights at school. In general, bullying involves an imbalance–or a perceived imbalance–of power....
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