“Sticks
and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me,” is a rhyme
that many of us may have heard when we were children. Sadly, research shows
that there is little truth to this rhyme, as name calling and other forms of
bullying often result in negative effects for young children, teenagers, and
even adults. The detrimental consequences of bullying are felt by both the
victim of an act of bullying, as well as the perpetrator.
Research
currently shows that one in four children in Australia become victims of
bullying, and victims can be as young as three years of age. According to a recent
article in the UK’s Birmingham Mail, research also shows that autistic
children are more likely to be victims of bullying, and that this tendency to
be bullied actually increases for autistic children as they grow older. Bullying
can be an especially distressing event for children along the autism spectrum
as well as their families.
Bullying is not just “empty and
meaningless” words. Words can in fact have harmful short and long term effects.
The effects of being bullied are devastating, as research also shows that
bullied children are more likely to exhibit symptoms of depression, are nine
times more likely to contemplate suicide, and girls that are bullied as young
children are especially likely to continue a pattern of victimization into
adulthood.
News reports from around the world are also
often filled with stories about children or teenagers who have committed
suicide after being bullied, but bullying is not confined to childhood, as it
can happen in the workplace, and even adult friends and neighbours can bully
other adults and even children.
The world was recently shocked by reports
of a letter
that an unidentified neighbour wrote to a lady who was caring for an autistic
child calling him a “wild animal” and advising her that she should euthanise
him because of his autism.
So, in a world where teasing and bullying
are commonplace, how does one raise a child that is resilient to the effects of
bullying, especially if one has a child with a disorder along the autism
spectrum?
Get
Involved – As a parent or primary caregiver you may
already feel “involved” just dealing and coping with the day to day challenges
of raising a child with autism, but it is imperative that you interact with
your child’s teachers and others in the classroom to both educate them about
autism as well as to be on the lookout for signs that your child is being
bullied. This is true whether or not your child attends a “mainstream” school,
or a school that is centred on the education of those with special needs.
Seek
Support – As awareness of autism spectrum disorders
increases, local and regional support groups have been forming all across the
globe that seek to provide a place for members to learn about autism, as well
as to learn about coping strategies and to seek and provide emotional support
for one another. These groups are invaluable to help members acquire the tools
that they need to support one another in their efforts to raise their children.
Advocate – There are now several groups in Australia and across the world
that are seeking to educate others about the real harm caused by bullying as
well as to come together to work for positive change. Bullying No Way is just one of the
many groups that have resources for parents, kids and others to come together
to end bullying for all Australians. No Bullying is
another group that can provide information about bullying and efforts to end
this deadly practice. This site has information that is also especially for
children and adults who have disabilities and are victims of bullying and other
forms of discrimination.
A greater awareness of the subject can go a long way in stopping bullying before it becomes a major problem in a child's life.
