260 likes | 430 Views
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
E N D
Young disabled People and bullying at school Lucy Mason of HEYA for Disability Equality in Education www.diseed.org.uk
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 From Dec. 2006. When carrying out their functions public authorities must have due regard to the need to: Promote positive attitudes towards disabled persons Encourage participation by disabled persons in public life Promote equality of opportunity Eliminate disability related harassment Eliminate unlawful discrimination The use of positive discrimination if necessary
Guiding Principles Disability Equality Duty • Proportionality- balance other needs and factors • Effectiveness-it works • Involvement- local disabled people, staff and disabled pupils • Transparency- process can and expenditure be easily tracked • 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
123 Disabled Pupils answered Individual Questionnaire in July 2008 10 Locations including pupils from 5 special schools 5 primary schools , 2 secondary academies and 14 secondary comprehensive schools. • 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 > Variability over 10 locations Range Every Day 0% to 50% More than monthly 0% to 38% Less Frequently 0% to 50%
For those in the study who were bullied what was done about bullying?
TheSocial Modelof disablement focuses on the barriers LACK OF USEFUL EDUCATION DISCRIMINATION IN EMPLOYMENT INACCESSIBLE ENVIRONMENT SEGREGATED SERVICES THE STRUCTURES WITHIN SOCIETY ARE THE PROBLEM DE-VALUING POVERTY ‘BELIEF’ IN THE MEDICAL MODEL PREJUDICE INACCESIBLE TRANSPORT INACCESSIBLE INFORMATION DISABLED PEOPLE AS ACTIVE FIGHTERS FOR EQUALITY WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ALLIES.
The dominant view is the Medical Model. CHILD DEVELOPMENT TEAM SPECIALISTS SOCIAL WORKERS DOCTORS SURGEONS GPs THE IMPAIRMENT IS THE PROBLEM SPECIAL TRANSPORT SPEECH THERAPISTS EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGISTS OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS SPECIAL SCHOOLS SHELTERED WORKSHOPS TRAINING CENTRES BENEFITS AGENCY DISABLED PEOPLE AS PASSIVE RECEIVERS OF SERVICES AIMED AT CURE OR MANAGEMENT
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%).
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
Hate Crimes against disabled people are more common than you think! Craig Robbins had learning difficulty and was viciously attacked leading to brain damage by three people- Wales Kevin Davies who had epilepsy was kept in a shed for four months until he died/ Wigan Rikki Judkins with Learning Difficulties beated to death by two teenagers when visiting Lancaster Raymond Atherton a man with learning difficulties repeatedly attacked and eventually killed by 2 teenagers after months of torture . Warrington
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