Bullying Specific Populations:

Special Needs & LGBTQ Students

Summer SeminarMulticultural Education &

Anti-bullying StrategiesUPR Rio Pierdas

Students with Special Needs

LGBTQ Students

Children at Higher Risk of Bullying

Every year approximately 6.5 million children in the United States receive Special Education services

These children represent an array of abilities and instructional needs, typically identified through the Individualized Education Plan (IEP)

These students have varying levels of inclusion in general classroom usually dependent on severity of student needs or behaviors.

(NCES 2010)

Children with Special Needs

Children with noticeable disorders present a high risk for being bullied

(Dawkins, 1996)

Certain Learning disorders appear to be at the lowest risk compared to other disabilities

(Kaukiainen, et al ., 2002)

Children with Special Needs

Content Integration

The Knowledge Construction Process

Prejudice Reduction

An Equity Pedagogy

An Empowering School Culture

Dimensions of Multicultural Education (Banks & Banks 1995)

Content Integration & The Knowledge Construction Process

Disability simulations◦ Advantages◦ Disadvantages

Assistive Technology

Prejudice Reduction &Equity Pedagogy

Studying the history of special education services in United States

Considering the promise and problems of inclusionary practices

Examining the disproportionate referrals of certain populations for special education services

An Empowering School Culture

9 out of 10 LGBT students have experienced harassment at school.

LGBT teens are bullied 2 to 3 times as much as straight teens.

More than 1/3 of LGBT kids have attempted suicide. LGBT kids are 4 times as likely to attempt suicide then their

straight peers. LGBT youth with “highly rejecting” families are 8 times

more likely to attempt suicide than those whose families accept them.

It is estimated that btw 20%-40% percent of all homeless youth identify as being LGBTQ

The stigma and hostilities youth experience from anti-LGBTQ bullying makes them prone to health risk behaviors, such as skipping school, smoking, alcohol and drug use, and sexual risk

LGBTQ Students

“Considered to be the most Gay friendly destination in the Caribbean, San Juan long buried its stereotypical macho image and replaced it with a culture that is remarkable for its tolerance and openness” (Lonely Planet, 2014)

Status & Rights LBGTQ in Puerto Rico ?◦ “Gay Marriage”◦ Discrimination◦ “Hate Crimes”

Including LBGTQ issues in K-12 curriculum If / when is it appropriate to discuss examine

LBGTQ topics in classroom?

LBGTQ in PR

Content Integration

The Knowledge Construction Process

Prejudice Reduction

Examples: from video “It’s Elementary”

Dimensions of Multicultural Education (Banks & Banks 1995)

LGBTQ student organizations Stop Bullying www.stopbullying.gov/at-risk/groups/lgbt/ Violence Prevention Workshttp://www.violencepreventionworks.org/public/bullying_sexual_orientation.page American Psychological Association (APA)

◦ Bullying and safe schools for LGBTQ students◦ www.apa.org/pi/lgbt/resources/bullying.aspx

It Gets Better http://www.itgetsbetter.org/

Empowering School Culture