October is National Bullying Prevention Month

Arlington Public Schools (APS) and the Arlington Partnership for Children, Youth and Families (APCYF) have released an Insights Report with countywide results of the new “Your Voice Matters” survey.  Perhaps you noted that students with disabilities respond below APS Overall; in particular, they respond -7 percentage points below APS Overall on Safety and Health and Wellbeing. Students with an IEP respond below APS Overall; in particular, they respond -9 percentage points below APS Overall on Health and Wellbeing.

When it comes to Health and Wellbeing, students with an IEP respond -4 percentage points below APS Overall. When it comes to Student and Family Engagement, students with a 504 plan respond -4 percentage points below APS Overall.

October is National Bullying Prevention Month. According to stopbullying.gov, “Children with disabilities—such as physical, developmental, intellectual, emotional, and sensory disabilities—are at an increased risk of being bullied. Any number of factors— physical vulnerability, social skill challenges, or intolerant environments—may increase the risk. Research suggests that some children with disabilities may bully others as well.

Kids with special health needs, such as epilepsy or food allergies, also may be at higher risk of being bullied. Bullying can include making fun of kids because of their allergies or exposing them to the things they are allergic to. In these cases, bullying is not just serious, it can mean life or death.:”