How To Stop and Prevent Bullying

October is National Bullying Prevention Month

Bullying can be a serious problem for children with disabilities.  Let's talk about what to do if you think your child may be a victim.

The first task is identifying the problem. Not all children will tell their parents what is happening: A child may be afraid of retaliation, or he may be feeling too helpless and humiliated. And, of course, some children may have language disabilities, or may not realize they are being bullied. In fact, only about a third of bullied students will report to an adult.

A child who is being bullied may come home with unexplained injuries, lost books or torn clothes. Headaches and stomach aches may increase, grades may suffer, she may have trouble sleeping, or there could be other signs that something is wrong. If you

Get Organized!

The amount of paper that follows our children can be overwhelming, but an IEP binder can help you manage the flow and present a more effective case at your child's next IEP.

First, invest in a strong, medium-sized binder. The binder should be a manageable size -- it's just to help you at your next IEP meeting, not to store everything that's ever been said about your child.

Next, gather all documents -- school records, IEPs, assessments, medical records, etc.-- in one place. If you think you're missing something (old IEPs, evaluations, etc.),