| If your child with the disorder of autism has | | | | expressing, to you. |
| experienced bullying, there are things you can do to | | | | It is an excellent plan, to try and understand why the |
| avoid it or stop it, as being parent(s), or caregiver(s). | | | | bully is doing this to your child. Realize, that bullies want |
| The first thing to consider, is what is the identification or | | | | power and they usually want to destroy and take |
| facts about bullying? | | | | advantage in some way, of a weaker person, or an |
| * A bully has an attitude toward your child with autism, | | | | individual they can control or diminish. If your autistic |
| who has no compassion. | | | | child is being bullied, do not tolerate it, it must be |
| * A bully usually feels he or she has more power or is | | | | stopped and corrected. |
| stronger in areas that your child is not, and will try to | | | | It is a challenge, but remember a schoolyard bully is too |
| intimidate your child to have low self-esteem. | | | | young to understand why he or she is doing the |
| * Most bullies are insecure in many ways, and are | | | | bullying to your autistic child. This kind of an individual, |
| usually lonely because they have very little or no social | | | | who is doing the bullying, only knows what makes he |
| skills. | | | | or she, to feel better. That includes his or her lack of |
| * Some bullies have a reputation of being a bully, and it | | | | friends and getting attention from others, which makes |
| makes the bully feel strong, so he or she must live up | | | | the bully feel he or she has friends. As I have stated in |
| to his or her reputation of that label. | | | | this article, bullying must come to a halt. |
| You, as parent(s), or caregiver(s), must establish a | | | | If bullying continues after you as parent(s), |
| good relationship with your child, so he or she can feel | | | | caregivers(s), have taken steps to stop it, I would |
| comfortable coming to you without fear if there is | | | | encourage you to contact your local or private school, |
| bulling that is present. This could be taking place in | | | | to see if they have an anti-bullying program that is |
| school, functions, on the school bus, classroom, sports, | | | | available, and for participation. If not, find out if you |
| even in family gatherings, and in families. | | | | could start one and put it together and meet on a |
| You can be on the alert, by identifying some of the | | | | weekly or monthly schedule. |
| bullying facts, and remembering, if your child does | | | | No child needs to be bullied. It must be stopped and |
| come to you with concerns about experiencing bullying, | | | | with the help of parent(s) or caregiver(s) and their |
| do not shut them out or ignore what he or she is | | | | insight, it can be avoided. |