2011 National Bullying Prevention Month in October

Susan LaVenture Bullying, and how to prevent it, is an issue that has confronted schools and families across the country. It is especially a concern for families of children with disabilities, including those who are blind or visually impaired, who may be perceived as vulnerable and therefore a target for bullying and teasing by their peers. “What Should You Do if Your Blind or Visually Impaired Child Is Bullied” (PDF) offers 10 guideposts for families and schools to address the issue.

To promote awareness of the issue, the PACER Center’s National Bullying Prevention Center has designated October as National Bullying Prevention Month. The National Bullying Prevention Center, whose goal is to engage and educate communities nationwide to address bullying through creative, relevant, and interactive resources, has organized resources and events for this month. A listing of these resources and events may be found on its website in recognition of National Bullying Prevention Month.

In addition, the Described and Captioned Media Program (DCMP) has made available several resources, including tip sheets and videos, for families and teachers on its website at www.dcmp.org/bullying.

We are grateful for the organizations that have focused on the topic of bullying and worked on developing helpful resources for families. We’d like to invite families and children to share their experiences with bullying and their own tips and advice on how to face their unique challenges by replying to this blog.