easy reading brochure

A resource kit for youth and adults with low English literacy

Guard Against Bullying:What is Bullying?

Vecova Centre for Disability Services and Research is a leading-edge, registered not-for-profit charitable research and service organization that has been building the capacity of persons with disabilities and enriching communities through leadership, innovation and collaboration since 1969. Affiliated with the University of Calgary we are recognized as a leader in the field of disability services and research.

The following publication Guard Against Bullying: What is Bullying? was originally written by Aiofe Freeman and Michelle Stiphout, The Vocational and Rehabilitation Research Institute, now Vecova Centre for Disability Services and Research in 2009. This publication was revised in 2012 by Vecova Centre for Disability Services and Research.

© 2012 Vecova Centre for Disability Services and Research

All rights reserved. The use of any part of this publication, whether it is reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form by any means (including electronic, mechanical, photographic, photocopying or recording), without the prior written permission of Vecova Centre for Disability Services and Research is an infringement of copyright law.

Disclaimer

The content of Guard Against Bullying: What is Bullying? is provided for information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. No legal liability or other responsibility is accepted by or on behalf of Vecova Centre for Disability Services and Research or its members, officers, employees or advisors for any errors, omissions, or statements contained in the publication. The Vecova Centre for Disability Services and Research accepts no responsibility for any loss, damage or inconvenience caused as a result of reliance on the publication.

Vecova Centre for Disability Services and Research3304, 33rd Street NW, Calgary, AB T2L 2A6Tel: 403.284.1121 Fax: 403.284.1146

www.vecova.ca

What is an Easy Reading Brochure?

Square Brackets[ ]

Definition Box

Some-times you will see square brackets, like these [ ], beside a word. The letters between the brackets are there to help people learn how to say the word.

Some words you see will have a box around the word like “Definition Box” to the left. Beside each box, there will be a paragraph that has an line around it, like this one. This is to help people learn what the word means.

Plain language is a way of writing so that more people can under-stand the information. There are some things we do with plain language that you would not see out-side of plain language.

For example, words like understand and outside, used in the first paragraph, have a - in the middle. This helps to make a longer word that is made of more words, easier to read.

We also use things like square brackets and definitions:

Guard Against Bullyingeasy reading brochure

Guard Against Bullyingeasy reading brochure

- BullyFreeAlberta.ca

Bullying can leave scars that last a lifetime.

Guard Against Bullyingeasy reading brochure

You will learn about:

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What is Bullying?

Who Can Be A Bully?

What Can Bullying Look Like?

Where Can Bullying Happen?

Not All Conflict is Bullying

More Guard Against Bullying Resources

Guard Against Bullyingeasy reading brochure

- Dr. Wendy Craig, Queens University

Bullying is a RELATIONSHIP issue, not a discipline

issue. It is about the misuse of power

and control.

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Guard Against Bullyingeasy reading brochure

What is Bullying?

When some-one has control over some-thing or some-one else. A person who has more money, friends, or status than you would have more power.

Bullying happens over and over again.

It is a problem between people.

It can be an act of violence [vi-oh-lens] towards some-one for no reason.

Bullying[bull-ee-ing]

When a person with more power hurts a person with less power.

Power

ViolenceWhen some-one hurts you or says they will hurt you.

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Guard Against Bullyingeasy reading brochure

Who Can Be A Bully?Any-one can be a bully.

A bully can be:

• Some-one in your class

• Some-one in your school

• Some-one you work with

• Some-one in your neighbour-hood [nay-boor-hood]

• An adult

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Guard Against Bullyingeasy reading brochure

What Can Bullying Look Like?There are 4 main ways people bully:

1. Verbal bullying

Verbal bullying

• People may call you names, tease you, say things that are not true about you, or say they will hurt you

• They may say mean things about you, like how you look, how you talk, or how you dress

2. Social [so-shull] bullying

This is when people say mean things to hurt you.

Social bullying

This is when people try to hurt your friend-ships.

• People may embarrass [em-bare-ess] you, not let you spend time with them, or blame you for some-thing they did

• They may only be friends with you if you do what they want you to do

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Guard Against Bullyingeasy reading brochure

3. Physical[fizz-i-call]bullying

Physical bullying

This is when people do mean things to hurt your body.

• People may hit you, poke you, shove you, steal from you, or chase you

• It can also mean that people may break or steal things that belong to you

4. Cyber [sigh-burr] bullying

Cyber bullying

This is when people do or say mean things over the internet or with a cell phone.

• People may say things about you on the internet or on the phone that are not nice

• On the internet and cell phone, they may also play tricks on you

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Guard Against Bullyingeasy reading brochure

Where Can Bullying Happen?Bullying can happen any-where.

Here are some places it can happen:

• Onaschoolplay-groundorfield

• In the halls at school

• On a date

• At work

But remember, it can happen any-where.

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Guard Against Bullyingeasy reading brochure

Not All Conflict is BullyingIt is different to joke with some-one, have a conflict, and tease than to bully some-one.

ConflictTo be in disagreement or opposition with another person or group.

Joking

Some-thing said or done to make people laugh. It is usually between friends and both people joke with each other.

Teasing

To annoy some-one. The intent is to get a response from the person being teased. The response is often anger or confusion.

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Guard Against Bullyingeasy reading brochure

Other Guard Against Bullying Resources

Bullying RolesYou will learn about:

• The people who are part of bullying

• What role you play

How Can You Prevent Bullying?You will learn about:

• Some things you can do if you are being bullied

Where Can You Learn More About Bullying?You will learn about:

• Web-sites you can go to learn more about bullying and get help

• Places you can go to learn more about bullying and get help

Guard Against Bullyingeasy reading brochure

- b-free.ca

At least 85% of bullying happens in a peer group.

Please think of the environment when printing this brochure.

Please print double sided.

403.284.1121 www.vecova.ca

Funding for this brochure was provided by: Alberta Children and Youth Services — The Community Incentive Fund, Telus, and Lethbridge Detachment Victim Assistance Society. We would also like to thank our partners for helping us create this resource: VoicePrint Canada, Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Lethbridge and Area, Developmental Disabilities Resource Centre (DDRC) of Calgary, Boys and Girls Club of Lethbridge, and Lethbridge Community Network.

What is Bullying? is part of Guard Against Bullying, a resource kit developed for youth and adults with low English literacy created by Vecova, located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.