Introduction: Students with disabilities are overrepresented in bullying statistics compared to students in general education without disabilities. This article attempts to spark conversation and create a narrative about why disabled students are more likely to perpetrate or be a victim of bullying than their peers. It presents various studies in order to assess what characteristics could account for these statistics.
Abstract and Overview: Studies show that students in special education programs report greater rates of bullying perpetration and victimization than those in general education without disabilities. This article aimed to determine possible predictors for the involvement of these students in bullying. The goal of the work was to open discussion about methods to be used in lessening the likelihood of this involvement by creating caring and supportive schools free from bullying and cruel behavior. In order to accomplish this the authors of this article discussed several studies which demonstrate that while having a disability increases the risk of bullying, rates vary by disability type and context. The article asserts that physical attributes, personal characteristics, and school-related factors all serve as
…show more content…
While reading this article, it was easy to discern the authors’ desire to enact a change in school systems so that the inclusion of disabled students can be met without bullying. The authors did an outstanding job of using the existing research on bullying and students with disabilities to initiate this goal. However, the authors not only supplied relevant and valuable studies and statistics, but they emphasized the importance of additional studies and research in order to fully understand the impact of these statistics and the modifications