As much as our society has evolved over the past decades, bullying continues to be a significant problem in our schools. Unfortunately, children with special needs are often the target of these unprovoked, hostile actions taken by narrow-minded individuals. Due to the importance of this topic, we will be featuring a series of these articles to raise awareness about bullying while providing you with proactive steps you can take to help stop it from happening.
Creating a Safe Environment for Youth with Disabilities
Special considerations are needed when addressing bullying in youth with disabilities. There are resources to help kids with disabilities who are bullied or who bully others. Youth with disabilities often have Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) or Section 504 plans that can be useful in crafting specialized approaches for preventing and responding to bullying. These plans can provide additional services that may be necessary. Additionally, civil rights laws protect students with disabilities against harassment.
–stopbullying.gov (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)
Getting the Best IEPs for Your Child
As mentioned above, IEPs can be extremely effective in helping your child receive the services he or she needs to thrive academically without the threat of being bullied. At the Law Offices of Johanna G. Burke, we specialize in finding the IEPs best suited to meet your child’s specific needs and ensuring its full implementation. Contact us today to schedule a free 30-minute consultation.