Bullying and Teasing

It is easy for the autistic child to be taken advantage of by others particularly in unsupervised settings. This is exacerbated by inappropriate social behavior and difficulty interpreting social cues. Strategies in this area address what families can do to teach coping skills in managing both teasing
and bullying.

Here is a selection of interventions to address these child behavior problems and support children experiencing Bullying and Teasing in particular.

Children on the autism spectrum are particularly vulnerable to bullying. The behavioral characteristics and social naivety that are frequently common such as overly formal speech, unusual behavior, obsessive interests, can make pupils with an ASD very vulnerable to bullying. Pupils with
an ASD are particularly vulnerable to "backhanded bullying" because they take friendship at face value and find it difficult to discern ulterior motives. Many children with ASD demonstrate an inability to "read" the social signs that someone doesn't have her best interest at heart. Their eagerness to please can make them easy to manipulate. They also have a tendency to say what they think without a full understanding of consequences. They may often appear to be physically clumsy
as well.

Poor emotional regulation makes children with autism prime targets for bullies. Bullies pick on other children they think they can get a rise out of, and when these children react strongly, they tend to get picked on more.
The child with autism may have no desire to conform to age appropriate social norms such as popular fashions, interests and music. These differences are especially noticeable as they get older and may further single them out from their peers. Encourage them to dress in similar ways to their classmates. Help expand their interests such that they can engage in activities that are similar to their peers. Encourage them to avoid discussing their interests to the exclusion of what other children enjoy. The foregoing can help make them appear less odd and less of a target for teasing and bullying.

Living in a low-income household and younger age have been shown to be risk factors for bullying among children with autism. This relationship holds true for both females as well as males. Anti- bullying programs need to take the latter into account. Encouraging the further development of self- regulation early in the child's school career is extremely important as well as the teaching of appropriate verbal and non-verbal skills for the playground.

The more skilled the individual is developing and/or maintaining friendships the less likely they are to be bullied. If the child can connect with other children, they may be able to act in a protective role when they are threatened.