Today’s post, Everyone Has a Responsibility To STOP Bullying, is taken from the September Williams Syndrome Changing Lives Foundation Newsletter. Penny Perez, CEO and founder of this foundation gave us permission to do so. Ms. Perez sends out one of the best newsletters for parents of children with special needs that I read. Sign up here for their e-newsletter to stay up to date with what is happening in their community.
What Can YOU Do To Stop Bullying?
No One Deserves to be Bullied
Everyone should be treated with dignity and respect, no matter what their disability or diagnosis.
Everyone has a responsibility to stop bullying:
- Schools
- Parents
- Students
- Peers
Individuals with Williams syndrome are Vulnerable to Bullying
Children with disabilities are two to three times more likely to be bullied.
One study shows that 60 percent of students with disabilities report being bullied.
Individuals with Williams syndrome Think Everyone is Their Friend
- Teach the Difference between a “Friend” and an Acquaintance or Stranger
- Teach handshakes or high fives instead of hugs
- Teach hugs are reserved for people that parents have approved
- Inform all teachers, therapists and other school personnel of the overfriendliness
- If warranted, include in the IEP that the individual cannot be left alone
- Ask for the individual to be assigned a “buddy” at school and recreational functions
- Get to know parents and kids in their social circle
- Monitor social media accounts
- Teach what bullies do vs. what friends do (name calling vs. kindness, handshakes/high fives vs. hitting
Teach the Difference
Don’t wait until bullying to start to teach about friendship and bullying. Teach what a friend is vs. what a bully is and make sure your child understands both.
√Friend
♥Shares with Others √
♥Uses Kind Words √
♥Helps Others √
♥Plays with You √
♥Kind to You √
♥Smiles at You √
♥Listens to You √
♥Nice to Everyone √
Bully
☻Calls Names
☻Hits Others
☻Kicks Others
☻Teases Others
☻Pushes Others
☻Steals from Others
☻Is Mean
☻Threatens Others
☻Laughs at Others
☻Tells Lies About You
Williams Syndrome Changing Lives Foundation
- www.wschanginglives.org
- https://www.facebook.com/WilliamsSyndromeChangingLivesFoundation
- @WSChangingLives
- 727-557-7177
4 Comments
Helpful blog post , I learned a lot from the points ! Does someone know if I could locate a sample Calendar example to work with ?
Hello Grady,
Thanks, glad you liked this post. You could find more information on the web site and Facebook page of Williams Syndrome Changing Lives Foundation. The links are at the end of the post.
Lorna
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