The Anti-Bullying Group People with intellectual disabilities talk about bullying behaviour

1. ‘RESPECT FOR ALL – THE WAY WE WORK’ The Anti-Bullying GroupPeople with intellectual disabilities talk about bullying behaviour “People feel listened to…it’s user led. Disabled people helping as opposed to ‘experts’. We provide a place for people to truly express themselves. A ‘safe place’ because the group is not attached to a service. • ROLE PLAYS • We use role plays a lot. We like “Doing it right – Doing it wrong”. This is what we think: • We enjoy putting them on • We enjoy watching them • Gets people interested • Everyone gets involved • Each role play is developed from something simple HOW THE GROUP WORKS The structure is very flexible – no chair, secretary … we are all equal members. We form teams to do the work. Everybody puts in. Everybody joins in brainstorming. Everybody is listened to. • WE RECOGNISE BULLYING IN OUR LIVES • We see bullying happening such as: • gossip in workplace and where we live • bullying on public transport – companion passes • lack of choices in residential homes – when to go to bed, what to wear, when to go out etc. • being bullied in medical situations – having control taken away – being spoken about and not spoken to • bullying in workplace by supervisors – threats made and being watched all the time and being treated ‘differently’ • complaints we make not taken seriously when something is happening that is upsetting people – we worry that nothing will happen when someone is bullied • The group talked a lot about when people are not addressed directly by staff, doctors etc but rather ‘spoken about’ to the support staff. Marie said: • “It’s as if your life isn’t in your own hands – it’s in your supporter’s” • The group thinks that “continually taking choice away is a type of bullying”. This often happens when staff have control of people’s money. • We want to do role plays for doctors as part of their training. Everybody needs to learn! WHAT PEOPLE THOUGHT OF OUR WORKSHOPS • ROLE PLAYS HELP US TO • Learn ourselves during practice • We learnt the difference between one violent act and bullying • Do it wrong – we ask, what is wrong? • Do it right – we ask, is it better? • People join in • SUPPORT STAFF LEARN TOO! OUR HISTORY There was a research project (NRWU) funded by the European Union – people with intellectual disabilities were part of the research team. Bullying was seen as an important issue to research. We found out a lot about bullying. To share what we found out, we held a 1 day workshop on bullying (July 2007). It was very successful. Lots more people wanted to attend than there were places for. In August 2007, we decided to form a group to plan and run workshops on bullying. • THE SUPPORT THE GROUP WANTS • A professional motivator – someone to keep people focussed • it should be user led and controlled • keeping in touch – phone - web page – letters - minutes etc - word of mouth • someone to organise venues, times for meetings, travel plans etc • someone who has time to contribute to the group • someone to get things done – like making a DVD so it actually happens • support person needs to be a good listener • needs someone who knows how to train people for workshops • We also need financial support and to network with other people and groups. • The group plans, carries out and evaluates the workshops. Members: • give presentations; • do role plays; • chair panel discussions; • lead small break-out discussions; • invite experts to come and talk; • advocate for others; • facilitate; • assist with refreshments; • plan; • work together and share ideas; • talk to press and radio. BULLYING GROUP MEMBERS Paul Alford, Brendan Carroll, Stephen Curtis, Helen Donnelly, Alice Donovan, Carol Hamilton, Edward Kennedy, Stephen MacDermott, Darach Murphy, Seamus Murphy, William Roberts, Martin Rowan, Helen Taffe, Fiona Weldon, Marie Wolfe. Email: curtisr@tcd.ie Web Page: www.tcd.ie/niid/research/anti-bullying/index.php We have support from the trade union SIPTU, members of parliament, the Garda (police) and Dublin Bus Stephen Curtis - Dr Carol Hamilton Republic of Ireland