There are several ways parents can help prevent the bullying of their children with learning disabilities, learning disabilities expert Dr. Sheldon Horowitz says in a video on the National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD) website.
“Children with learning disabilities and other disorders of attention and behavior are absolutely more vulnerable to being bullied in school than their non-disabled peers,” Dr. Horowitz said.
Facts
- More than 160,000 students in the U.S. skip school because they fear that they will be bullied
- 60% of children with special needs are bullied
Causes of bullying
- Children with LD learn in a different way
- Students with LD act in a different way in class
- When students are singled out to speak or answer questions in the classroom, their behavior may make them targets for bullies
What parents can do for their child with LD
- Explain what bullying is to their child, and ask the child if they see bullying in places the lunchroom, restroom, or hallway, or during school breaks
- Talk to the child’s teachers and school administrators about bullying, and ask if they observe bullying in the school
- Determine if teachers and school administrators are vigilant in spotting and dealing with bullying
- Use the child’s IEP or 504 plan to protect children from being bullied. Some plans have info about bullying
More information on bullying is available on the National Center for Learning Disabilities website.
Further reading on learning disabilties:
The public has misconceptions about people with learning disabilities
