Bullying is a common problem for students with special needs. It can seriously affect your schooling so it is important to tell your teacher or principal if you are being bullied. Your school has a responsibility to make sure you are safe, both physically and emotionally[13].

Good schools take bullying seriously. Some schools will ask the Specialist Education Services to come and run the whole school programme called “Eliminating Violence”. There are lots of other things that can be done, such as training students to be “peer mediators” (mediators are people to help sort out arguments without taking sides). This training is carried out by the “Cool Schools” programme of the Peace Foundation.

For more information about bullying see our information sheet, Bullying in Schools”. [13] Clause 5, National Administration Guidelines, pursuant to Section 60A Education Act 1989