week 5-2

 

Week 5 Assignment 2

Student- Kennedy

     Working with students who have disabilities I have seen more students bullied with disabilities than other students.  At times students that have disabilities don’t appear to have a disability until they speak or are unable to socialize with their peers.

     In Kennedy’s situation having Asperger Syndrome, many times the individual is not able to communicate like their peers, and this makes them a target for bullying.  Sometimes the bullying isn’t visible or physical, students can walk by a call a name without anyone hearing them.  When the school found out that Kennedy was being bullied, they took the first step by addressing it and giving a consequence if it happened again.  The school failed Kennedy by not watching him more closely.  Since the school knew he was being bullied, they should have had more interaction with him, by speaking with his teachers and closely monitoring him.

     When dealing with bullying it is important to have strategies on how to prevent it, how to intervene to keep students safe.  An open line of communication is important to discuss how a student interacts socially face to face and on the computer.

     As a teacher, it is important to know your students and establish a dialogue to talk about appropriate behavior and ways to keep safe.  When teachers see, bullying going on it is important to bring it to the parent’s attention and how to approach the situation.

     In the school, it is important to put in place a team that addresses the situation as soon as it is found out.  Under the New York State Law DASA, the school has 24 hours to address the situation and put in action a plan.  With so much bullying going on, face to face, cyberbullying, it is important to be on the lookout for any changes going on with students, as well as your own children.