Young disabled People and bullying at school
Lucy Mason of HEYA for Disability Equality in Education
www.diseed.org.uk
Young People’s Voices
Disabled Children and Bullying• Twice as likely as non-disabled children to be bullied-
Children’s Commissioner Dec 2006• 82% of children and young people with learning
difficulty in UK are bullied-this is 280,000 children. MENCAP-Don’t Stick It Stop It 2007
• Disabled Children are 9 times more likely to be excluded than non disabled children DfES 2004
• 62% of disabled pupils had been bullied, 19% daily or weekly and 38% at least once per month.
DEE in work for DCSF in July 2008
Duty to Promote Disability Equality
Eliminate unlawful discrimination
Promote equality of opportunity
Eliminate disability related harassment
Promote positive attitudes towards disabled persons
Encourage participation by disabled persons in public life
From Dec. 2006. When carrying out their functions public authorities must have due regard to the need to:
The use of positive discrimination if necessary
Guiding Principles Disability Equality Duty
1. Proportionality- balance other needs and factors
2. Effectiveness-it works3. Involvement- local disabled people, staff
and disabled pupils4. Transparency- process can and
expenditure be easily tracked 5. Social Model of Disability thinking to
ethos and all policies , practices and procedures…
Getting pupils views:Make a diary of the school day- Find out for each activity whether it is enjoyed-liked, disliked or unconcerned
From the Inclusion Assistant. Available from DEE £10
1.The School Building 2. Playtime3. School Dinners4. Assemblies5.School Trips6. PE and Games 7. Lessons8.Teachers9.Teaching Assistants 10.Other Children11. School Council12. School Clubs 13. Corridors
Getting the views of disabled pupils
Area of the school Excellent Good Not so Good Bad N=
The School Building 25% 40% 10% 25% 127
Playtime 33% 39% 16% 12% 120School
Dinners 17 % 24.% 15 % 44% 102Assemblies 17% 31% 15% 37% 126
School Trips 47% 21% 9% 23% 124
PE and Games 29% 43% 12% 16% 130Lessons 24% 36% 8 % 32% 104
Teachers 19% 46% 5 % 30 % 105
Teaching Ass. 40% 39% 7% 14% 134
Other Children 22% 28% 18% 32% 74
School Council 37% 5% 29% 29% 73School Clubs 25% 25% 26% 24% 91
Corridors 8% 15% 17% 60% 35
As a disabled person what do you think of....
•Have you ever experienced bullying •at school Yes 64.5% No 35.5%
If Yes, how often?•Every day 19.5%•More than once a week > 18%•More than once a month>•More than once a year > 18%•Hardly ever >
123 Disabled Pupils answered Individual Questionnaire in July 200810 Locations including pupils from 5 special schools 5 primary schools , 2 secondary academies and14 secondary comprehensive schools.
Variability over 10 locations RangeEvery Day 0% to 50%More than monthly 0% to 38% Less Frequently 0% to 50%
Teachers Sorted 27
No Answer 26
Nothing was done 11
Detention 4
Parents 3
Other Students 3
Moved School/House 2
Police 1
Hit him 1
For those in the study who were bullied what was done about bullying?
The Social Model of disablement focuses on the barriers
DISABLED PEOPLE AS ACTIVE FIGHTERS FOR EQUALITY WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ALLIES.
LACK OF USEFUL EDUCATION
INACCESSIBLE ENVIRONMENT
DE-VALUING
PREJUDICE
INACCESSIBLE INFORMATION
INACCESIBLE TRANSPORT
‘BELIEF’ IN THE MEDICAL MODEL
POVERTY
SEGREGATED SERVICES
DISCRIMINATION IN EMPLOYMENT
CHILD DEVELOPMENT TEAM SPECIALISTS
GPs
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS
SPEECH THERAPISTS
BENEFITS AGENCY
DISABLED PEOPLE AS PASSIVE RECEIVERS OF SERVICES AIMED AT CURE OR MANAGEMENT
SHELTERED WORKSHOPS
DOCTORS
TRAINING CENTRES
SPECIAL SCHOOLS
EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGISTS
SPECIAL TRANSPORT
SURGEONS
SOCIAL WORKERS
The dominant view is the Medical Model.
Attitudes. 12.6% of barriers were identified as attitudes towards disabled students. In several cases these overlapped with sexist and racist attitudes towards Muslim girls and more generally included many of the stereotypes such as over protectiveness and under estimating what disabled student can do.Bullying . 11.5% of barriers were identified with bullying from other students, but also identified teachers and support staff as colluding. If added to 4 this would be the largest category of barriers arising from negative attitudes to disabled people (24.1%).
Barrier Solution
Bullying once a fortnight. Teachers should be strict with bullies.Bullying and prejudice. Tell a teacher you trust or a friend to try to stop
bullying. Stop name calling. Go tell tutor about bullies.
Bullying-but teachers do not believe me Help the bullies to help someone else. Reform the Anti-Bullying meetings- they help us take a stand and fight for what is right.
Bullying Having friendsPeople being picked on Let the bullies explain why they are doing what
they are doing
Bullying solutions make up 8.6%, but are obviously strongly related to attitude, disability awareness and behaviour change making this affective area the largest with 40.9% of solutions.
Promoting Positive Attitudes to Disabled People
• Make sure disability is covered in a positive way in all parts of the curriculum. e.g. Art, History, Geography Science
• Gather examples from national press and media –use in displays
• Relate to TV –Pete on Big Brother-Tourettes• Alison Lapper Trafalgar Square• Help pupils critiques stereotypes English• Use a social model approach-identify barriers• Examine ethical issues from a human rights perspective • Ensure hidden curriculum is disability friendly• Challenge disabilism• Develop strong self esteem in disabled pupils
Two-Face Batman Forever
Dr. NO
See No Evil, Hear No Evil, 1989
Finale Hunchback Notre Dame
Hate Crimes against disabled people are more
common than you think!
Kevin Davies who had epilepsy was kept in a shed for four months until he died/Wigan
Craig Robbins had learning difficulty and was viciously attacked leading to brain damage by three people- Wales
Raymond Atherton a man with learning difficulties repeatedly attacked and eventually killed by 2 teenagers after months of torture . Warrington
Rikki Judkins with Learning Difficulties beated to death by two teenagers when visiting Lancaster
Bullying and Name Calling• Take Young People’s Views Seriously• Support the development of Friendships• Challenge Stereotypes• Explain the reasons why this is hurtful• Get young people to develop anti bullying
policy• Record incidents• Investigate and report back on causes• Deliver focussed intervention
What is to be done
• Make all children and young people aware of disabilist bullying
• Make positive attitudes to disabled people are promoted in your school
• Challenge Negative stereotypes in the media• Set up and train bully busters or playground
friends• Ensure views disabled pupils got and taken
into account
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