Bullying towards students with special needs

Students with special needs are more likely to be bullied than other pupils. This can happen because they might have difficulty when talking, because of his/her appearance, or how well they work in school… Sometimes, they might not understand social rules or have trouble expressing themselves. This can make them more vulnerable to bullying.

In some cases, students with special needs may be isolated or excluded from chatting with class colleagues, making them even more vulnerable to bullying. Bullying can also hurt their ability to learn and grow. It's important to know that bullies often target those kids who they think are weaker and won’t fight back. 

 

What is the Impact of Bullying on Students with Special Needs?

Have you ever felt feelings of sadness, of fear and/or shame when talking or going to school? Have you ever felt very lonely or excluded socially ? Have your sleeping and dietary habits changed at any time ? Have you ever experienced a lack of interests or passions for different activities?

All of these unpleasant feelings and changes of habits can be consequences of bullying. Bullying can also make you feel increasingly anxious, can worsen your self-esteem and your confidence, and negatively impact your concentration and your motivation for any activity or task that you are supposed to do. You might be aware that bullying causes a decrease in academic achievements and school attendance, as well as depression, violent moods, substance abuses, stomach aches and headaches, suicidal thoughts, self harm and even suicide…

Now, think how bullying affects a student with special needs.

Here is a video for you to understand the impact of bullying on students with special needs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38mZLDWMNe4

Bullying can occur ANYWHERE, from school to social media. If you think that it is not bullying because it does not happen in the cafeteria, or in the classroom or in the hallways… your thoughts are not right ! it is important to be vigilant in all circumstances to prevent and avoid that your mates are being bullied, especially if he/she has special needs. 

When we see someone being bullied, it's important to remember what empathy is. Setting yourself in other shoes and imagining how they might be feeling. If you've ever felt sad, scared, or excluded, you know how much it can hurt. Students with special needs may already face unique challenges, and bullying can make things even harder for them. By showing empathy, we can understand the impact bullying has on them and support them in a kind and caring way.

Remember, empathy is a superpower that allows us to understand and share the feelings of others. Let's use our superpower to show kindness, support, and acceptance to all students.

Activity: Empathy and Relationships

In this activity, you will find some phrases that describe a person who has the ability of expressing empathy and a person who does not express empathy at all. Please, try to categorize the sentences in the table below.

1. “If I were you, I would (...)”
2. “I completely understand how you are feeling (...)”
3. “I just felt the same way as you are feeling right now, you are not alone (...)”
4. “Come on, get over it, there is no single reason to keep thinking about it”
5. “Oh my God, that’s a shame”
6. “Please, if you need someone, you can always count on me”
7. “I will solve the problem for you”
8. “Do you want to tell us what happened yesterday?
9. “Anything you need, let me know”
10. “It is completely ok to feel that way”